Northwest Sportsman Mag April 2019 by Media Index Publishing Group

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Sportsman Northwest

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Volume 11 • Issue 7

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ANNIVERSARY

PUBLISHER James R. Baker EDITOR Andy Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Randall Bonner, Scott Brenneman, Jason Brooks, Dennis Dauble, Scott Haugen, Doug Huddle, Sara Ichtertz, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Troy Rodakowski, Dave Workman, Mike Wright, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS Kayla Mehring, Jake Weipert

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CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below. ON THE COVER Are you stoked for the trout opener?! Bet your bottom dollar that Kayden Wiles is! He caught this one at his family’s lake house last year. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 7

57 COASTAL

PERCH WON’T LEAVE YOU IN A LURCH Surfperch represent an “underutilized fishery,” in the words of state managers, with plenty of these pan-sized specimens available on both the Oregon and Washington coasts. Randall Bonner takes us down the shore in search of tasty redtails and striped perch!

FEATURES 77

BEGINNER’S LUCK Take it from someone who’s been blessed, with a little good fortune and the fish gods on your side, you’re sure to catch something this time of year! “If what you possess is simply the desire to become a fishy soul, trust me, that is all you need,” writes our Sara Ichtertz in her latest inspiring story that comes as spring gives us a fresh beginning at fishing.

BULLISH ON THE BULL The curvy, slow-flowing Bull River in Northwest Montana is transitioning from brown trout fishery to native species stronghold. Mike Wright shares the ins and outs of this crystal-clear stream, its challenges and how to fish it.

GET THE LOWLAND PARTY STARTED Washington’s trout season gets going with year-round lakes receiving spring releases and then really starts to rock with April’s big day. Mark Yuasa reports on top lakes, stocking stats and more!

(ALEC SCHAUER)

137 BLUES CLUES: EXPLORING WASHINGTON-OREGON RANGE FOR EDIBLE FUNGI Mid- to late spring is an ideal time to head into the Blue Mountains in search of a wide variety of edible and tasty mushrooms, so consider our Dennis Dauble to be your field guide for finding more morels, boletes and corals. 147 WORKING THE NORTHWEST TURKEY RUT Gobbler season in the Northwest is long – nearly two months – and how you chase toms changes as the birds move through their “rut.” Troy Rodakowski has bagged turkeys throughout the season and this issue he shares tips to help you be more successful too! 148 WASHINGTON SPRING GOBBLER PROSPECTS Wildlife biologists from Colville to Walla Walla to White Salmon share their forecasts and provide a few pointers on where to head this season.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details. NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Periodical Postage Paid at Seattle, WA and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $49.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues may be ordered at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2019 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

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115 GET READY FOR TROUT OPENER SOUTH SOUND:

Jason Brooks is a grizzled veteran of Washington’s trout opener, and he’s got some advice for getting everything squared away so you’re Not That Guy At The Launch. He’s also got great ideas for where to head on April’s fourth Saturday and what to use!

(ANDY WALGAMOTT)

COLUMNS 67

THE KAYAK GUYS: WORK STRAIT REEFS FOR BIG LINGS Midspring marks go-time for lingcod in Washington’s inland waters, and you can count on finding a jonesing-for-fillets Scott B. on the water in hopes of refilling his freezer. He has tips for putting Waadah Island and Strait of Juan de Fuca lings in the kayak.

107 NORTH SOUND: RAINBOW LAKES PRIMED FOR SEASON With the big day coming up, Doug has the deets on the eight best lakes in all of Whatcom and Skagit Counties for creeling a limit on the upcoming lowland lakes opener. 123 CHEF IN THE WILD: HELLO, YELLOW: DISCOVERING TASTY, TASTY PERCH Chef Randy’s a late bloomer when it comes to yellow perch, which are abundant throughout the Northwest – not to mention tasty. He shares his story of discovery, as well as a recipe for perch in red curry with rice. 155 GUN DOG: TOYS VS. TOOLS: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE It’s not all fun and games for budding gun pups – Scott H. shares why it’s important to keep games of fetch with your dog separate from training involving bumpers and other faux fowl. 159 BUZZ RAMSEY: SIGHT-IN NOW FOR LONG-RANGE SUCCESS The responsibility of taking long-range shots at game “will require you to shoot really tight groups at short range,” maintains Buzz, who details why spring is prime time for building your confidence in taking and making 400- and even 500-yard shots at deer and elk this upcoming fall. 167 ON TARGET: THE 5 BEST VARMINT CALIBERS EVER? With nye on 60-plus years behind the trigger, Dave has come to one conclusion: “There are five cartridges that, when paired to good rifles, are the absolute best choices for putting the hurt on rodents of all varieties, and have proven themselves against coyotes as well.” What is his handful of elite rounds for plinking prairie dogs, yellow-bellied marmots, ground squirrels and more? 14 Northwest Sportsman

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22 (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

THE BIG PIC:

TIDE SWING

As Columbia salmon reforms halt, NSIA goes on the warpath and WDFW’s Susewind defends his commission’s decision.

DEPARTMENTS

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THE EDITOR’S NOTE 2019 salmon prospects

FISHING AND HUNTING NEWS NOAA sharpens focus on West Coast Chinook fisheries; Washington game commissioners hear about northeast predator, prey issues; Feds propose delisting wolves in rest of Northwest, Lower 48; Yaquina River cleanup planned; Elk hoof disease confirmed in Washington’s Blues

READER PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD Big walleye, steelhead, Chinook, big game and more!

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Yo-Zuri, Ontario Knife Co. monthly prizes

THE DISHONOR ROLL Halibut skippers convicted, sentenced for unlawful fishing; Doing brodies on razor clam beds with felony arrest warrants a bad idea, it turns out; Jackass of the Month

DERBY WATCH WDFW Statewide Trout Derby set to begin; NSIA Spring Classic fundraiser April 20; Three surfperch derbies coming up; Ongoing/upcoming events; Recent results

OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, deadlines, boat and sportsmen’s shows, more

THEEDITOR’SNOTE

Salmon rods await deployment. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

here are two stories that are dangerous to write in the hook-and-bullet world, I’ve found. The worst is anything to do with ice fishing. Run a preview on hardwater angling opportunities and it’s sure to be a warm winter. Ignore it all together and February 2019 roars in from Siberia. I remember one time when I was the editor of Mid-Atlantic Fishing & Hunting News, my freelancers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania put together a package of stories about ice fishing waters only for the weather to warm and everything melted. So we did a follow-up open-water issue and it all froze again. Ugh!

THE OTHER TOUGH subject is salmon. Lord knows I’ve been mesmerized by big forecasts and splashed numbers on covers, only to see runs not quite live up to expectations. Which is to say that, yes, of course, I’m going to again have a crack at it in this space anyway. Writing at this juncture – in mid-March with North of Falcon discussions setting Washington and Oregon seasons still ongoing into early April and with U.S. and Canadian fisheries officials making noise about Fraser, Columbia- and southerly-bound Chinook – is inherently dangerous, but there are some positive signs out there and I think we could all use something to look forward to. I think the best of the lot is the 900,000 and change early and late coho expected back to the Columbia. That jag of fish will provide good action on the Pacific off Washington and Oregon’s North Coast, and the ocean options range from twice as many as last year to four times as much. “I’m kind of excited for the first time in three years,” said WDFW’s ocean manager Wendy Beeghley. Silver salmon opportunities also look much better than 2018 off Oregon’s Central Coast and in Central and South Puget Sound, while Washington’s Skagit River and Baker Lake will probably be the bright spot for sockeye. Pinks are in rebuilding mode after The Blob, floods and low returns knocked the hump out of their meteoric rise. But even with relatively low returns, cranked-up orca recovery efforts, and the new international salmon treaty and its reduced interceptions, there will still be Chinook to catch on the Oregon Coast, Puget Sound and prime British Columbia waters. Not to mention halibut, lingcod, rockfish, cabezon, albacore, Dungeness and, oh, yes, those beach-running surfperch, detailed by Randall Bonner elsewhere in these pages. Indeed, in an increasingly complex fisheries world, at least we have options and things to fish for up and down the greater Northwest Coast. Spring has sprung. Let’s go fishin’! –Andy Walgamott nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 19

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Tide Swing As Columbia salmon reforms are halted, NSIA goes on the warpath and WDFW’s Susewind defends his commission’s decision. By Andy Walgamott

s if late winter this year in the Northwest wasn’t bitter enough, what with all the snow and lingering cold, hard-won sportfishing gains on the Lower Columbia were put on ice too. Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted early last month to keep nontribal gillnets on the mainstem below Bonneville, as well as push long-planned spring and summer Chinook allocations from 80-20 recreational-commercial, where they were in 2018, down to 70-30, where they were in 2016 before the reforms began to unravel, and roughly where fall Chinook allocations have also been paused at. That infuriated supporters of the half-decade-plus-long process, groups such as the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, which all but declared war on the agency the commission oversees, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Portland-based organization, headed up by Liz Hamilton, issued an “urgent industry call to action” to members in the Evergreen State and beyond. “Their vote restores year-round nontribal gillnetting on the Columbia River’s 13 ESA listed stocks, and dramatically shortens sportfishing seasons already pummeled due to drastic declines in salmon and steelhead returns,” an email read. Though this year’s coho run looks good, low fall Chinook and B-run steelhead returns could mean another season of restricted fisheries on the big river. NSIA also asked its many supporting companies and individuals to contact their Washington lawmakers to oppose a pair of WDFW-requested bills in the legislature that would increase the cost of fishing and hunting licenses by 15 percent and extend a surcharge for angling on the Columbia and its tribs. Previously, NSIA and the Coastal Conservation Association of Washington had been on the fence over WDFW’s proposed fee hike, neither in favor or opposed, rather “other.” But with the commission vote and the nontribal gillnet ban bill stalled in the state Senate at the time, they trolled right through WDFW’s lane. “Tell [state lawmakers] you oppose the Commission’s decision to abandon the Columbia River Reforms and ask them to oppose House Bill 1708 and Senate Bill 5692 (Columbia River Endorsement and Agency Fee increase) until the agency’s bills are amended to reverse this horrible decision and hold WDFW accountable to implement the reforms,” NSIA’s email read.

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PICTURE

Last month the Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to backtrack on Columbia River fishery reforms. An angler tries to keep a salmon away from a jet sled’s engines during 2013’s fall fishery at the mouth of the big river. (BRIAN LULL) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 23

PICTURE

A Buoy 10 salmon guide nets a Chinook during 2014’s fall fishery. Under the plan, sport-commercial ESA impact allocations were supposed to be 80-20 by this season, but have been pushed back to 2016’s 70-30. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) This year WDFW is asking Evergreen State legislators for a $60 million-plus bump to its budget, a quarter of which would come from the license increases, the rest from the General Fund. And on the Southern Front, members were urged to contact Oregon’s governor and commission chair to try and head off feared changes there. “We’ve got to stop this all-out assault on wild fish, sportfishing and our industry!” NSIA stated.

THE COLUMBIA REFORMS grew out of a 2012 CCA ballot measure that would have banned gillnetting in Oregon and led to a compromise from then Governor John Kitzhaber. It was agreed to by both states and began to be implemented in 2013. The deal prioritized developing new nontribal commercial gear in the mainstem Columbia, moving gillnetting to off-channel areas near the mouth, and increasing fish allocation for sport anglers. Allocations are allowable catch impacts on Endangered Species Act-listed stocks. It required Oregon anglers to purchase an endorsement to fish the Columbia and its tribs, a “foundational” element to help fund off-channel production and harvest for the netters, and other fishery facets. And the move also aimed to help more wild salmon and steelhead get through to 24 Northwest Sportsman

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upstream spawning grounds. But certain aspects have been hard to achieve, including the search for alternative gear and bays on the Washington side for the net fleet, leading to discontent from commercial interests that were effectively leveraged by Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Bruce Buckmaster of Astoria. That first led to a pause in the allocation transition for fall kings and then a big review of how the whole program has worked. A subpanel of Oregon’s and Washington’s fish commissions was formed, with three members from each, and in late February they were presented with three alternatives: Option 1, which they chose (described above) and was eventually voted on and accepted by Washington’s full commission; Option 2, Washington’s 2018 policy – 80-20, 80-20, ~75-~25 for spring, summer and fall Chinook and no mainstem gillnets; And Option 3, the “no loss of economic benefit alternative,” with ~65-~35 splits on fall Chinook and either a ban on mainstem gillnets or continuing to allow them. A WDFW summary stated, “There is no substantial difference between the options concerning conservation benefits.” Voting for Option 1 were Bob Kehoe of Seattle, Holly Akenson of Enterprise and Buckmaster; voting against were Dave Graybill of Leavenworth and Bob Webber of

Port Orford; and not voting because it was going to pass anyway was Don McIsaac of the Vancouver area. “For them to take this vote now, with a handful of commissioners, it’s a sham,” CCA’s Nello Picinich later told Terry Otto of The Columbian. “The gun was already loaded on how they were going to vote.” When Option 1 came before WDFW’s full commission a week later in Spokane. Graybill again voted against it, saying, “I’m not going to accept going backwards.” Pointing to low forecasted runs of Chinook this year, he said the Columbia was in “serious trouble” and supporting an increase in nontribal commercial impacts wasn’t something “I can do.” Voting in favor were Kehoe and McIsaac, and they were joined by Barbara Baker of Olympia, Kim Thorburn of Spokane and Jay Holzmiller of Anatone. McIsaac said that sorting out Columbia management issues ahead of March’s and April’s North of Falcon salmon-seasonsetting negotiations was very important and that the change would help achieve concurrency with Oregon in terms of managing fisheries held on the river. Included in Option 1 is a clause to make “good faith progress” towards setting a comprehensive policy for 2020 and after. Thorburn said there was still work

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PICTURE to be done, but that the subpanel’s recommendation most closely aligned with one of the commission’s policies and it provided economic benefits for all. And Holzmiller contrasted the infighting between the recreational and commercial fleets with the unified voice of Northeast Washington residents who’d shared their concerns about the region’s whitetail deer and high predator populations with the commission the day before. In “not wanting to sound like a hippie” from the 1960s, he urged all anglers to work together to figure out how to get more fish back. Abstaining in favor of holding more discussions closer to the affected area were Commissioners Larry Carpenter of Mount Vernon and Brad Smith of Bellingham, the current chairman and previous one. Thrown into the bargain is a relaxing of the mandatory barbless hook requirement by June 1, if not earlier. In the end, 70-30 is still above where allocations stood in the so-called 2010-12 “base period,” when they were 60-40, 5050 and 59-41 on spring, summer and fall Chinook, according to WDFW staff. Even so, NSIA’s Hamilton said she had “no words to describe the depths of this betrayal to the license-buying public, and to the industry that sends millions in excise tax to the agency and hundreds of millions in taxes to the State of Washington.”

A WEEK LATER, as angler anger seethed, WDFW director Kelly Susewind, issued an extraordinary statement about the vote. “These actions are not only important in sustaining the economic viability of the commercial fleet. They are also a key factor in maintaining federal support for hatchery production and achieving compliance with WDFW’s hatchery reform policy for the lower Columbia River, because they play an important role in removing excess hatchery fish from wild spawning areas,” he wrote. With wild salmon runs overall in rough shape, clipped fish fuel fisheries. Susewind’s statement, posted on WDFW’s website on a Friday afternoon, outlined what led to the commission’s vote. 26 Northwest Sportsman

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Screenshots from WDFW’s livestream of last month’s decision in Spokane show commissioners voting on a subpanel’s recommendations to freeze the Columbia reforms at 2016 levels. Commissioners Bob Kehoe, Don McIsaac and Barbara Baker (top) raise their hands in voting yes, as did (offscreen) Kim Thorburn and Jay Holzmiller. Commissioner Dave Graybill was the lone no vote (middle), while Chair Larry Carpenter and former chair Brad Smith (bottom) abstained to continue the discussions closer to the big river. (WDFW)

PICTURE

Former WA Fish Commissioners Weigh In Editor’s note: On March 11, five former members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission who’d been on the citizen oversight panel when it agreed to reform Columbia River fisheries sent state legislators a letter about the current commission’s vote last month.

e, the undersigned former Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners, took part in the development and approval of the Department’s Hatchery and Harvest Reform Policy as well as its Columbia River Reform Policy. We are writing to voice our dismay that much of the progress that we made through these reforms is being reversed. After too many years of arbitrarily picking numbers to placate various user groups, our Commission decided to take a more principled approach. Our “Hatchery and Harvest Reform Policy” was central to that effort. The policy announced commitments to: 1) the best available science; and 2) wild fish conservation as the highest priority. Those commitments were made to apply both to fish protected under the ESA where the law already requires such stewardship as well as to runs that have not been listed where the law’s protections are less rigorous. Without such clear commitments to science and to conservation, we believed then, and still believe now, that the Department

will be perpetually driven by pressures to maintain historical practices rather than moving towards a sustainable future. The current Commission’s decision to suspend belief in the science and relax standards in place that protect wild fish genetics was perplexing. That decision relegated conservation and science to positions subordinate to outside pressures. We are keenly aware that it takes courage and strength of commitment to bring an end to practices that science has shown are detrimental to wild fish recovery. The reform policies were designed to create incentives for more selective fisheries and impose disincentives on users employing old more harmful methods. The Columbia River policy called for a buyback of non-Indian gillnets that was never attempted. Only with a determined effort to move towards more selective harvest methods can we produce much greater numbers of hatchery fish without harm to wild fish genetics. Some users assert that current wild fish genetics are not pure enough – nothing like the wild fish of old. They

claim that it makes no sense to conserve those “mongrel” fish. Established science tells us otherwise: if they are free from excessive hatchery influence, naturally spawning fish will fairly quickly evolve and adapt to their home stream. By protecting naturally spawning fish, we are rebuilding genetically fit runs and protecting this fitness into the future. For the state’s non-tribal fishers, fishing is not a right, but a privilege. With the privilege comes a responsibility. Most users prefer not to adopt new fishing techniques, but everyone has a responsibility. We all are called upon to contribute through better forest practices, shoreline development rules, and habitat restoration spending. Fishermen and women cannot be exempted. The 2018 State of the Salmon report from the Governor’s Office listed 13 of the 15 [statewide] listed runs as “below the goal.” Only two of the runs were “near the goal.” Reversing the downward trajectory will take courage and commitment. The millions of dollars being spent on salmon habitat restoration will be largely wasted if no additional wild fish are allowed to escape into the restored habitat. We cannot return to a time when we fished without concern for wild fish runs. We cannot return to a state of ignorance about the importance of fish genetics. Fish runs are the public’s heritage. As stewards of those resources, we urge you take a stand. The Department needs your direction to resist the pressure to allow fishing methods of the past that are unsustainable in the long run. The best path forward can be found by following the lodestars of conservation and good science. We urge your support of those principles.

With respect, Dr. Conrad Mahnken, Former Director, Manchester Research Station, NW Fisheries Science Center, WA Fish and Wildlife Commissioner 2006-2016 Rollie Schmitten, Former Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, WA Fish and Wildlife Commissioner 2009-2014 Chuck Perry, Former Range Land Ecologist, WDFW, WA Fish and Wildlife Commissioner 2005-2013 Gary Douvia, Vice President, Raymond James, LLP, WA Fish and Wildlife Commissioner 2006-2013 Miranda Wecker, Former Director of the Marine Program, UW Olympic Natural Resources Center, WA Fish and Wildlife Commissioner 2005-2017 28 Northwest Sportsman

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PICTURE

If there’s a winner, it’s nontribal commercial fishing interests in Astoria and elsewhere in the Lower Columbia, but anglers are in a better position in terms of allocations than where they were in 2012, and barbed hooks are back in the tackle box. State staffers say ensuring rule concurrency on the river shared with Oregon is key. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

He noted that their policy included “flexibility” in its transitions. “Despite years of effort, no new off-channel areas have yet been established in our state and none of the alternative gear are fully tested and ready to support a viable commercial fishery (although test results for some options continue to look favorable). That is why the commission took action to extend the gillnet transition period, first in 2017

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and again this month,” Susewind stated. “The goal of the Columbia River reform policy is to build a future for both recreational and commercial fisheries, not put the commercial fleet out of business,” he continued, pointing out that the recreational spring Chinook allocation has increased from 65 percent to 80 percent. That level is set there in 2019, unless a runsize update finds this year’s poor

forecasted run of 99,300 upriver-bound fish is likely to come in at 128,000-plus, which would result in a 70-30 split. Susewind also said that the 70-30 reccomm split of fall Chinook impacts – below WDFW’s 75-25 policy – was meant to ensure concurrency with Oregon salmon managers. He said that with North of Falcon ongoing and wrapping up this month, the Washington commission’s vote

was meant to make sure that fishery regulations on the shared river matched up. Susewind claimed that delaying fall Chinook allocations from the planned 8020 “would reduce fishing days in 2019 by less than 2 percent, based on model runs from previous years.” And citing NOAA’s plan to reduce hatchery production in the Lower Columbia due to too many marked fish

straying onto the gravel, his statement said that while “gillnets are not the final answer to this problem … we remain committed to developing new selective methods for commercially harvesting salmon in the Columbia River and implementing the objectives in the Columbia River Basin Salmon Management policy.” Fair enough to defend his bosses, the commission (Susewind received kudos

from Buckmaster for it), but he may have overstated the effectiveness of gillnets at keeping hatchery strays off the spawning grounds. The devices are not in fact used in areas where wild salmon dig redds, and a week after the director’s statement was posted above the fold, per se, it was moved elsewhere on WDFW’s website, but did not offer an answer on exactly how that works. NS

nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

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NEWS

NOAA Sharpening Its Eye On West Coast Chinook Fisheries

ederal overseers could press for new Chinook fishing restrictions for select stocks at sea in the coming years to provide more salmon for orcas. In a guidance letter sent last month to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages fisheries off the West Coast, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries branch made known that it wants to reengage with the panel on season setting. The agency last did that in 2009 and found that the council’s commercial and recreational fisheries in Washington’s, Oregon’s and California’s ocean waters, didn’t jeopardize southern resident killer whales at the time, but the salmon-eating J, K and L Pods have declined since then and last year an analysis identified important king stocks for the hungry marine mammals. “Several of the high priority Chinook salmon stocks currently identified in the framework contribute substantially to Council fisheries, including lower Columbia River, Sacramento River, and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon stocks. Identifying high priority Chinook salmon stocks for SRKW is an important step to assess impacts and prioritize management and recovery actions that will benefit the whales,” the March 6 letter from NOAA Regional Administrator Barry Thom to PFMC Chair Phil Anderson states. Lower Columbia stocks are key to Washington Coast salmon fisheries, while the other two runs are important off Oregon and California. Puget Sound fall Chinook were found to be even more important to orcas, according to NOAA’s and WDFW’s joint review last year, but are not mentioned in the letter. Still, the state agency is developing seasons with an eye towards the species’“dietary needs.” The letter, which came during

Angler Gary Lundquist shows off a 28-pound fall Chinook caught off Westport aboard the charter boat Slammer in a recent season. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

North of Falcon, does say that the feds are developing a “risk assessment” for analyzing salmon fisheries past, present and future in terms of overlap with SRKWs, and how they impact orca prey availability. “If adjustments are needed, this framework could guide fisheries actions to limit impacts to prey availability in specific areas and times that are believed to create the greatest benefit to the whales. We believe adaptive frameworks like this, or other equally protective tools, provide confidence that fisheries can respond to the highest risk conditions and help improve conditions for SRKW in the future,” the letter states. While it says that the new tool won’t likely be available to apply to 2019 fisheries, NOAA still wanted to get with PFMC about this year’s proposed seasons – expected to be finalized in mid-April – and their impacts on the aforementioned stocks.

Lurking in the background is the threat of a lawsuit against NOAA to look into fishery effects on orcas. According to The Seattle Times, fishing interests involved in the season-setting process say fisheries aren’t to blame for the downfall of the “blackfish,” but seasons are an easy “knob” to try and turn, and that habitat issues in the spawning and rearing waters are the real problem for low Chinook numbers. The letter goes on to say that efforts are also being made to reduce disturbance from boats in orca foraging areas. A bill passed out of Washington’s House on a 78-20 vote expands the don’tgo distance around orcas from 200 to 300 yards, prohibits approaching closer than 400 yards from behind, and requires vessels to slow to 7 knots within a half-mile bubble around them. It was in the Senate at press time. –Andy Walgamott

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NEWS

Washington Fish And Wildlife Commissioners Hear About Northeast Predator, Prey Issues

ith the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s March monthly meeting being held in Spokane, members had a chance to hear about the region’s predator and prey issues from local residents. And from too many cougars to not enough deer to wolf management, hunters, homeowners and ranchers gave WDFW’s citizen oversight panel an earful, and then some, during public input. In testimony that was live-streamed, some talked about how few deer they were seeing anymore where once they would routinely see hundreds. One hunter who had been afield for 40 years and whose family has a longtime deer camp near Sherman Pass spoke of seeing only one mature mule deer buck and a handful of does last season. He tearfully called for a six-year deer hunting moratorium across Eastern

A 197-pound Northeast Washington cougar snarls after being treed for a state-university predatorprey research study. (WDFW)

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Washington so future generations would have opportunities to see the animals. A Colville-area man proposed a pilot Sept. 1-March 31 lion season in WDFW’s District 1, the popular game management units of Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties. His idea called for a minimum harvest of 45, but if the take fell below that the hunt would be restricted as a sign of a declining population. Another talked about fearing letting his kids play in the backyard, relating a story about a cougar having been as close as 3 feet from someone. Some called for reinstating hound hunting, and another spotlighted one tribe’s predator and prey management, essentially saying that big game is their primary priority. A man with a CDL volunteered to help translocate wolves out of the region. And livestock producer Aaron Scotten told commissioners how ranchers were

poo-pooed that one wolf pack had twice as many members as state managers thought, but were vindicated when a recent aerial survey showed just that. He also indicated he was more comfortable speaking in Spokane than Olympia, where he said he felt like he might be shot in the back by audience members. Speaking of the state capitol, several predator and prey bills that could affect Northeast Washington were active this legislative session. They include one directing WDFW to review the status of wolves across the state; another concerning whitetail deer surveys and giving the agency a goal of increasing counts to eight to nine per mile; and creating a program for training dogs for nonlethal pursuit of predators by vetted houndsmen to protect stock and public safety. Meanwhile, for this hunting season, WDFW is proposing to eliminate antlerless whitetail tags and permits for youth, senior, disabled, second deer, early and late archery and early muzzleloader ops in the region’s Game Managment Units 101 through 121 to try and increase that deer herd. Back in Spokane, the commission’s public input period was scheduled to run from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m., but didn’t wrap up until 10:48 a.m. such was the number of people who wanted to speak. “We heard you and we’ll start discussing this internally and see what we can do,” said Chairman Larry Carpenter in closing testimony. At the end of the day’s session, Carpenter touched on predators again, as did another commissioner. “We’re not headed on the right compass course,” said Jay Holzmiller of Anatone, in Eastern Washington’s other far corner, who added it was a bad idea “to keep walking down the road fat, dumb and happy ... “We’re sitting on a powder keg.” –AW

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NEWS

Feds To Propose Delisting Gray Wolves In Rest Of WA, OR, Lower 48 A Teanaway Pack wolf gets back on its feet after being captured and collared by state wolf managers in 2013. (BEN MALETZKE, WDFW)

ederal wildlife overseers last month proposed to delist gray wolves in the western two-thirds of Washington and Oregon and elsewhere across the Lower 48. “Today, Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will soon propose a rule to delist the gray wolf in the Lower 48 states and return management of the species back to the states and tribes,” confirmed a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson on March 6. The official termed the recovery of gray wolves – which began with the formation of packs in Northwest Montana in the 1980s and then federal reintroductions in Central Idaho and Yellowstone in the 1990s – “one of our nation’s great conservation successes, with the wolf joining other cherished species, such as the bald eagle, that have been brought back from the brink with the help of the (Endangered Species Act).” Yes, a success, but also a flashpoint, and surely this latest attempt will lead to more court challenges, like those that derailed 2013’s proposal. That one followed on 2011’s successful delisting in the eastern third of Oregon and Washington, as well as all of Idaho and Montana. Last June, federal officials again began reviewing the status of wolves outside the Northern Rockies recovery zone, with the goal of putting it out for public comment by the end of 2018. That didn’t quite happen, but now it appears that it has.

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The mid-March publication of the proposal on the Federal Register opened public comment through May 14. For more, see fws.gov/home/wolfrecovery. If it goes through, among the notable impacts would be that Washington and Oregon wolf managers would have a more level playing field for dealing with depredations. They can lethally remove members of livestock-attacking packs in the eastern thirds of both, but west of a line that snakes across the region they can’t. Still, it wouldn’t be an immediate freefire zone, as both states stress nonlethal conflict avoidance tactics in trying to prevent depredations in the first place. “... It’s likely this would be a drawn-out process, but if protections were lifted all of Oregon’s wolves would fall under the state management plan,” Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy told the Salem StatesmanJournal. “We’re ready to handle this if the federal rules are lifted.” WDFW’s wolf policy lead Donny Martorello echoed that sentiment. “We have adequate protections for wolves in this state,” he said. The agency has felt that way for several years, in fact, encouraging USFWS to delist wolves in the rest of Washington and asking a state US House lawmaker to spur the feds as well. “The best available science shows that the gray wolf has successfully recovered

from the danger of extinction and no longer requires federal protection,” said that Congressman, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Yakima Valley) in a press release. “We can see in Washington state that the wolf population is growing quickly while being effectively managed by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife in the eastern third of the state. I applaud the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s for moving forward with a proposal to delist the wolf in the lower 48 states in order to return management to the states.” Despite the fears of wolf advocates and highly litigious organizations, wolf populations have grown best largely in the state-managed areas. By chance, the day USFWS made the delisting proposal known, ODFW reported a “probable” lamb depredation within miles of the Pacific, and revealed that tracks found to the south last year were likely to be from a wolf and a trail cam shot taken to the north near a sheep attack last fall shows a canid that looks more wolf than dog. “Given the quality of Washington’s Wolf Plan and investments in collaborative wolf management work here, we do not expect federal delisting to have a significant impact on wolves in our state,” said Chase Gunnell, spokesman for Seattle’s Conservation Northwest. “However, Wolf recovery is progressing well in Washington and our wolves will remain a state endangered species until state recovery goals are met.” WDFW’s Martorello said that the speed at which a federal delisting proposal would likely move would “synch” with the state’s own look at how well the species is doing. The news comes as WDFW has also begun its own status review of gray wolves, which are state-listed as endangered. “The department will review all relevant data pertaining to the population status and factors affecting existence of wolves in Washington. Based on the information collected and reviewed, the department will make recommendations to maintain the species current listing status as endangered or reclassify species to sensitive or threatened or other status,” an agency statement says. –AW

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Northwest Sportsman 37

NEWS

Yaquina River Cleanup Planned

he U Da Man Fishing Tournament group announces the third annual Port to Port Yaquina River Clean Up on Saturday, April 20th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In conjunction with Oregon SOLVE, the U Da Man volunteer group will work from the Port of Toledo airport boat ramp on the South Bay Road. Some volunteers will be shuttled by boat to sections of the river banks that are only accessible from the water. Other volunteers will pick up trash along both the sides of the river from the adjoining roadways. Last year, volunteers collected an estimated 5,000 pounds of trash. Volunteers should dress accordingly for the weather. Work gloves and a light lunch with drinks will be provided by UDM. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday April 20th at the Toledo airport boat ramp. If you would like to volunteer operation of your boat or work on foot, please contact Barb Dudley at (541) 2727375 or Tom Simpson at (541) 351-0666. This project is sponsored by the Ports of Toledo and Newport, Dahl Disposal,

Last year’s Port to Port Cleanup of the Yaquina River collected a whopping two and a half tons of trash. (U DA MAN) Thompsons Sanitary Service, Englund Marine & Industrial Supply, Longview Hills Fishing Club and JC Sentry Market-Newport. U Da Man Fishing Tournament is a group of volunteers dedicated the

enhancement of the salmon population and the habitat of the Yaquina River. More info can be found on our Facebook page, facebook.com/ UDAMANFishingTournament. – U Da Man

Elk Hoof Disease Confirmed In Washington’s Blues

oof disease in elk has turned up in Washington’s Blues, echoing confirmed cases on the Oregon side of the range and coming after Idaho said an infected wapiti was harvested last fall across the Snake River from the mountains. WDFW’s Kyle Garrison said hooves submitted by a muzzleloader hunter who killed the animal southeast of Walla Walla in mid-January came back from a Washington State University lab as positive for treponeme-associated hoof disease. The cow elk was taken on a special permit in the Pikes Peak area of Game Management Unit 154. Garrison said the initial belief is that there may not be more affected elk there, based on the high public visibility of the herd, but WDFW planned to ramp up monitoring, including spending more time

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looking for limpers during aerial surveys. The disease makes it more difficult for elk to get around and there is no treatment for it. Last year, after hoof disease was found in elk east of Washington’s Cascade Crest for the first time, WDFW began euthanizing members of a Trout Lake herd, removing 12 through the end of 2018 through a combination of state staff and landowner efforts and special damage hunt permits. Garrison said that he has two more sets of hooves from elk taken by master hunters to submit to WSU for testing. “We’re still actively monitoring and actively removing limpers when we can” in the Trout Lake valley, he said. Further west WDFW is conducting a four-year study of survival rates of

infected cow elk, as well as the disease’s affects on fecundity and herd movement. Some 76 animals are part of the study. To try and stop or slow the spread of hoof disease, WDFW may expand the area where hooves must be left in the field to all of Western Washington. That follows on recent confirmed cases just south of Olympic National Park and past years’ requirements that initially applied to just several units in the Cowlitz basin, then all of Southwest Washington and units stretching up the I-5 corridor to Canada. Garrison also encouraged members of the public to share their sightings of limping elk, both recent ones and any they may have seen in the past. With the Blues confirmation, hoof disease isn’t just on the radar in Eastern Washington, but a growing threat there. –AW

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READER PHOTOS

Walleye bites don’t get much better than this! On a guided night trip on the Mid-Columbia in late February, buddies Chad Dawson (above), Jerry Han (left) and Ken Howard (right) caught four fish that together weighed just under 60 pounds, including one that went 18 pounds, 13 ounces for Howard. No word on the hot plug’s make and model, but a variety of colors worked in the dark.

As last fall’s Washington mule deer hunt hit crunch time, Denise Travis headed out to check some of her “special spots,” and one of them paid off. “Got out on an island to take a look around, heard a rustling and splash, about had a heart attack when I saw him!” And later in the fall, she harvested a big snow goose. (ONTARIO KNIFE CO. PHOTO CONTEST)

(YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

This 16.55-pound Oregon Coast hatchery winter-run gave Anthony Clements a good battle for his money. “Got wrapped around logs and limbs – I’m just glad my 12-pound leader held. Literally had to row over and untangle her off three different tangles. Just glad she didn’t come off until she hit the net!” (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting products from Yo-Zuri, Ontario Knife Co. and Northwest Sportsman, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic and their hometown; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave S, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 41

READER PHOTOS An early winter trip on Puget Sound’s Marine Area 8-2 yielded a tasty mixed bag for Logan Smith and his dad, Chad – two blackmouth and six Dungies. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

Trout season really never ends anymore in the Northwest, but the best fishing of the entire year is just around the corner! John Leppell and Napoleon Williams show off a nice stringer of rainbows they caught on opening day at an Olympia-area lake. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

Rich Rex kneels for a quick snap of a nice wild steelhead he caught and then released on an Olympic Peninsula river. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

Marvin Holder reminds us of better days for springers with a nice one he landed in a recent season. Chin up, the runs will come back around! (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST) 42 Northwest Sportsman

APRIL 2019 | nwsportsmanmag.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 43

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WINNERS!

Hailee Smith’s peaceful picture of Andrey Obertas casting a fly line on Oregon’s upper McKenzie River is the winner of our monthly Yo-Zuri Photo Contest. It wins her gear from the company that makes some of the world’s best fishing lures and lines!

It was a tough waterfowl season for Marc Ling, but winning our monthly Ontario Knife Co. Photo Contest with this pic of son Mitchell and their pup Daisy and some California ducks scores him a knife from Ontario Knife Company!

For your shot at winning Ontario knives and Yo-Zuri fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 45

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MIXED BAG

Halibut Skippers Sentenced For Unlawful Fishing

Halibut await processing back at port in this image from a recent trial involving multiple fishing violations. Washington game wardens say that two Ilwaco charter skippers high-graded customers’ catches to ensure they went home with larger fish, but some smaller ones apparently died after being held in livewells, according to witness testimony. (WDFW)

wo Washington South Coast skippers were sentenced last month after being convicted of nearly 20 fishing violations that occurred during chartered halibut trips. The culmination of an 18-month-long investigation, an eight-day trial in Pacific County District Court before six jurors and with more than 25 witnesses found David Gudgell, 58, of Seaview guilty of 10 counts

of second-degree unlawful fishing and brother Robert Gudgell, 57, of Longview guilty of eight, state officials reported. David Gudgell was sentenced to 55 days in jail, and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and stay off all boats except ferries for a year, while Robert Gudgell got 40 days, a fine of $8,000 and was also told to stay off boats, according to a local newspaper which covered the case. Both were also

JACKASS OF THE MONTH It’s a case of life imitating art, except with poachers. In Jim Kjelgaard’s 1957 story Double Challenge, a lodge owner shoots a big buck before season and then puts it in cold storage till the hunt opens. In real life, in 2016 an Indiana man shot a “buck of a lifetime” out of season,

then caped and froze it for a year before presenting it as legally taken in 2017. While it was the story’s hero, Ted, touching the buck as it hung on the lodge’s game pole on the day of the opener and realizing the body was unnaturally cold already that broke the case in the book, a tip led to Mark Gill’s downfall. Hoosier State wildlife managers say the nontypical 20-pointer (Eastern

By Andy Walgamott

given two years of probation. District Court Judge Nancy McAllister allowed them to serve half their jail time as community service, but it had to involve helping out natural resources. “Jail time is to start May first,” McAllister told the Gudgells, according to Natalie St. John of the Chinook Observer. “To coincide with the halibut season.” The brothers were found not guilty on 10 other counts, but the jury did find David Gudgell guilty of one count of wasting fish, a gross misdemeanor. The case began in 2017 with tips from fishermen that small halibut had been held in a livewell at sea on David Gudgell’s boat, Westwind, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. On the run back to Ilwaco, he and a deckhand tossed overboard “up to seven halibut, three of which had had their gills cut, keeping the bigger fish to ensure that the boat returned to port with only the legal limit,” according to the agency. That spurred game wardens to take an undercover trip on another Pacific Salmon Charters fleet boat, as well as interview “more than 100 customers who described similar experiences on multiple vessels,” including Robert Gudgell’s boat, the Katie Marie, according to WDFW. Some halibut apparently were able to swim off under their own power, while others “sank like a leaf falling from the sky,” count) whitetail, which had 200-plus inches of antler, was the second Gill, 56, shot in fall 2016, making it illegal, and by claiming to have killed it in 2017, he also unlawfully provided false information to game wardens. Gill reached a plea deal in which his hunting license has been, er, put on ice for two years, he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service (hopefully in winter), fined $741, and had to forfeit the mount of the buck. nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 47

MIXED BAG game wardens stated. “This illegal activity is what we call called high-grading,” said WDFW Capt. Dan Chadwick. “It’s something we’re watching for and we rely on tips from the public; they were our eyes and ears on this one. The case would not have been possible without their testimony and the support of the community, including the many local charter boat captains who were appalled by this behavior.” During the trial, Robert Gudgell explained why he came up with the livewell. The Observer’s St. John, who covered the investigation, trial and sentencing, wrote “There were times when deckhands couldn’t immediately deal with fish that came on board, for example, in very rough waters or when more than one customer brought in a fish at the same time. He said he believed it kept the animals healthier and happier, and was safer for passengers than leaving fish lying on the deck. Gudgell strongly denied throwing dead fish overboard.” “I’m a conservationist,” Robert Gudgell said at trial, according to St. John. “I don’t kill stuff just to kill. I don’t do it.” “He said his personal definition of ‘high-grading’ merely meant making sure customers get the largest fish, and crewmembers take home the smaller fish,” St. John wrote. “He said it was common practice on charter boats.” But according to a press release from WDFW officers, “this type of illegal behavior isn’t typical of ethical charter captains who recognize that their livelihoods depend upon sustainable fish population.” West Coast fisheries are governed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which establishes quotas for each state, which are further subdivided between marine areas. Catches are closely monitored to keep from exceeding limits. According to WDFW figures, the average Ilwaco halibut has weighed from 14 to 18 pounds in recent years. Chartered trips are listing for around $200. Since 2018, private and for-hire boats have been required to have descending devices rigged up for “immediate use” when targeting halibut. WDFW’s investigation was led by Officer Todd Dielman. “We are very grateful for the efforts put forth by Pacific County Deputy Prosecutors Joe Faurholt and Ben Haslam who worked tirelessly on this case,” added Capt. Chadwick. 48 Northwest Sportsman

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Doing Brodies On Razor Clam Beds With Felony Warrants A Bad Idea, It Turns Out

A WDFW image shows tracks on a razor clam beach near Ocean Shores. (WDFW)

ou would think that if you had a mess of felony warrants out for your arrest in three states, carried a bogus driver’s license and had also jumped bail, you wouldn’t want to stretch your neck out too far. You’d kind of want to just hunker down and keep clam, right? Not Skippy – or whatever his real name is. In late winter he drew the attention of a sharp-eyed Washington game warden while allegedly doing donuts on prized razor clam beds and in the surf near Ocean Shores. It’s legal to drive on the beach, but Officer Warren Becker thought he might need to check on things, so he stopped the rig, inside of which were also a woman and four kids. “When asked for his ID, the driver provided a driver’s license that had the name SKIPPY,” WDFW Law Enforcement reported on their Facebook page. Maybe the nickname for Skip D. Bale? Skip D. Town? “As expected, the name came back with no record,” WDFW reported. Perhaps if he’d used Skippyjon Jones or Jif or something else this all might have turned out differently, but with that ID now in question, Becker asked for the woman’s just to make sure she could legally drive the rig and children back home. Things were about to get as bad for Skippy as an ultralow tide opener is for those denizens of the South Coast’s sands.

“After running her information it turned out the female passenger was a protected person in a domestic violence no-contact order,” WDFW reported. “However, the respondent was a different person other than SKIPPY. The respondent also had numerous felony warrants and was considered to have high violent tendencies.” Becker wasn’t so sure he should let everyone go on their way until he, er, dug to the bottom of Mr. Skippy’s identity, so he called in reinforcements. “Working with the other responding units, Officer Becker was able to make a positive match to the actual name of the respondent in the no-contact order by using physicals, tattoos and Department of Licensing photographs,” WDFW said. Skippy wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near his copilot, but that wasn’t the worst of it. “It turns out SKIPPY had multiple felony warrants in two adjoining states and 14 pending felony charges in Washington, including assault 2nd, forgery, money laundering, theft 1st, trafficking in stolen property and bail jumping,”WDFW reported. Might as well add a fake license too. The guy was booked into the Grays Harbor jail on all the warrants and violating the no-contact order, the agency said. Take it from the razor clams you spun circles on, Skippy, some days it’s just better to stay in your own shell, because now it’s looking like you’re about to be cooked.

NSIA Fundraiser Is April 20 WDFW Trout Derby

By Andy Walgamott

his month’s 27th Annual Spring Fishing Classic will be a little different than past ones, as at press time the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association fundraiser was only being held on the Willamette, what with the Columbia scheduled to close after April 10. Held on Saturday, the 20th out of Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, the event features $500 for biggest spring Chinook brought in and prizes for top boat catches, as well as a raffle for a brandnew 17-foot Willie drift boat, Clackacraft trailer and Tempress seats. Tickets are $255 for a three-person team, which works out to $85 per person, but your springer squad can be as large as five or six. Following the fishing is a catered dinner, silent auction and raffle drawing. Last year’s classic was held on both the Willamette and Columbia during awful weather conditions. Jerry Spiess, Sky Masters and David Haukeli won the team competition with 34.7 pounds of salmon, while Darrel Ehl claimed the big fish prize with a 12.15-pounder. NSIA reported that more than $34,000 was raised for its advocacy work. To register, head to Fisherman’s Marine, log on to nsiafishing.org or call NSIA at (503) 631-8859.

Sky Masters, Jerry Spiess and Dave Haukeli show off prizes after winning the team competition at 2018’s edition of the Spring Fishing Classic. (NSIA)

Begins On Opener

ashington’s statewide trout derby returns from April 27 through Oct. 31, and fishery officials are still raving about last year’s success, which saw around two-thirds of prize tags turned in. “We plan to plant the exact same lakes as we did last year and this has been a highly popular event with a good return on tagged trout,” says Stephen Caromile, a Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Program manager in Olympia. More money has been diverted into this five-month event for 2019, with about $39,000 ($38,000 last year) in donated prizes providing more than 1,000 giveaways from 130-plus participating businesses. Tagged fish correspond to prizes that start at $25, with Dick Nite, Mack’s Lures, Offut Lake Resort and Verle’s, among others, providing $1,000 worth of goods. In the Puget Sound region – King, Snohomish, Skagit, San Juan, Whatcom and Island Counties – around 300 of the 1,000 marked fish will go into 22 lakes. “In 2018 we had 57 percent of the tags turned in (around the Puget Sound region), which is a 14 percent increase from 2017,” WDFW fisheries biologist Justin Spinelli said of the derby that began in 2016. “The nice part is people from urban areas don’t have to travel very far, like within less than an hour drive, to have a chance at catching a tagged fish. Some folks bought their licenses for the derby, which is great, but we want folks to enjoy fishing for other species in the summer months and simply get out and have a good time.” Most counties across the state have at least one lake in the program, with Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Mason, Okanogan, Spokane, Thurston and Yakima, among others, all having a half dozen or more enrolled waters. It’s free to enter the derby, though anglers 15 and older do need a fishing license. Nov. 4 is the last day to report catching a derby fish. “This year, we would like people to take

An angler shows off a tagged trout – note the distinctive spaghetti tag in its back – he caught on opening day of 2018’s fishing season at Sammamish’s popular Pine Lake. (WDFW) pictures of their win and post it on social media using #watroutderby,” adds Caromile. For details, go to fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ Home/FishingDerby. There are also numerous kids fishing events held throughout the year that are hosted by WDFW – wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ kids/events.html – and other fishing groups and clubs such as the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation (castforkids.org). See the Outdoor Calendar for upcoming dates. The Black Lake Fishing Derby for kids age 2 to 14 begins at 7 a.m. on April 27 in Ilwaco and is sponsored by the city. Details: (800) 451-2542; ilwaco-wa.gov. And the “Hooked on Fishing” Opening Day Trout Derby is April 27 from 12:01 a.m. until noon on Lake Wilderness. The event is hosted by the Greater Maple Valley/ Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Maple Valley Rotary and the City of Maple Valley. Details: maplevalleychamber.org. –Mark Yuasa nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 51

ONGOING/ UPCOMING EVENTS  Now

through the end of season: Westport Charterboat Association Weekly Lingcod Derby; charterwestport.com  April 13-14, Something Catchy kokanee derby, Lake Chelan; somethingcatchy.org  April 27, La Push Lingcod Derby; facebook.com/LaPushLingcodDerby  April 27-May 5, Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club Annual Spring K&K Fishing Derby; lpoic.org/blog  May 17-19, Detroit Lake Fishing Derby; detroitlakeoregon.org  Late spring, probable 11th Annual Mack Derby, Odell Lake, Oregon; odelllakeresort.com/ fishing/mackinaw-derby  June 1, Richland Brownlee Fishing Tournament, Brownlee Reservoir; basecampbaker.com  June 15, 3rd Annual Richland Crappie Shootout Kayak Fishing Tournament, Brownlee Reservoir; basecampbaker.com  June 29-30: Salmon Derby, Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island; nootkamarineadventures.com For a list of more Washington freshwater fishing contests, see wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests.

RECENT RESULTS

 2019 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby, March 8-10, eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca: first place: Mark Thompson, 19.35-pound Chinook, $10,000; second: Don Hansen, 13.90 pounds, $2,000; third: Chris Gregerson, 13.65 pounds, $1,000

PK Yi and Alec Schauer show off surfperch they caught during a derby last year at an Oregon Central Coast beach. (ALEC SCHAUER)

3 Surfperch Derbies Coming Up

f after reading the surfperch article elsewhere this issue you’re interested in a little friendly competition, you have three upcoming options. West Coast YouTube user PK Yi (who has a following of 41,000 subscribers) puts on annual derbies. His event last year at Ona Beach State Park, between Newport and Waldport, brought in 90 participants, and he’s planning another there for July 27. If you’re in Washington, check out

surfperchderby.com for an annual event on May 19 on the Long Beach Peninsula. If you’ve got a busy schedule or can’t make it to those single-day shindigs, you can also enter May’s month-long derby held by Tony’s Crab Shack in Bandon. All species of surf perch caught between Humbug Mountain, near Port Orford, and Horsfall Beach at Coos Bay, are accepted at this event. See tonyscrabshack.com/perchderby for more details. –Randall Bonner

2019 NORTHWEST SALMON DERBY SERIES  July 12-14: Bellingham Salmon Derby  July 24-28: The Big One (Lake Couer d’Alene) Salmon Derby  Aug. 1-4: Brewster Salmon Derby  Aug. 3: South King County PSA Salmon Derby  Aug. 10: Gig Harbor PSA Salmon Derby  Aug. 17-18: Vancouver (BC) Chinook Classic 52 Northwest Sportsman

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 Aug. 31: Columbia River Fall Salmon Derby  Sept. 7: Edmonds Coho Derby  Sept. 21-22: Everett Coho Derby  Nov. 2-3: Everett Blackmouth Salmon Derby For more details, see nwsalmonderbyseries.com.

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he Pacific Ocean creates large wind waves, as fishermen we are often running directly into these waves or running into a “head sea”. With a few tips we can improve the ride and minimize the impact on the passengers and crew. A “bow down” running attitude of your vessel is important to slice through the seas. Position moveable ballast weight (coolers, fishing gear, etc) forward. Use trim tabs and negative engine trim to force the bow down. This will allow the sharp entry of your bow to slice through the waves. In a particularly large head sea it is advisable to quarter the waves at an angle, applying engine power at the bottom of the swell and easing back on the throttle as the vessel crests the wave. Fuel usage will increase to some extent, although having the boat propped correctly should minimize the additional fuel usage. The engine should be able to reach the manufacturer’s recommended WOT rpms with a fishing load and full tank of fuel. Often vessels are propped lightship and when running in ocean conditions with a load are over propped creating excessive fuel consumption. A vessel designed to operate safely in ocean conditions will have a large proud bow with a sharp entry combined with a high dead-rise at the transom. An enclosed pilothouse keeps the crew safe and dry with ocean rated windshield’s. This is one instance where weight and heavy duty construction allow the boat to punch through the seas year after year. As always the occupants should have on the proper life preservers as well as working communications and safety equipment.

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Northwest Sportsman 53

CLOSEST SEAPORT TO PORTLAND, OR!

The Port of Garibaldi encompasses three coastal towns, including Bay City, Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. Besides housing RV parks and lodging, restaurants, seafood processing, a lumber mill, and commercial and charter fishing, the Port’s harbor has moorage for 277 vessels. The Port’s property also features the Lion’s Club Lumbermen’s Park and an antique train display. A walking path is also a popular draw for locals as well as visitors to Garibaldi.

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1 New Washington fishing, hunting licenses required; Opening day for special permit bear hunts in select Oregon and Washington units 2 North of Falcon meeting on initial ocean, Columbia salmon fishing options, WDFW Region 5 office, Ridgefield – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon 3 North of Falcon meeting on initial Puget Sound salmon fishing options, Lynnwood Embassy Suites – info: see above 6 ODFW Youth Turkey Hunting Clinics, White River Wildlife Area, Tygh Valley ($, register), and Denman Wildlife Area, Central Point (free, register) – info: odfwcalendar.com 6-7 Washington youth turkey hunting weekend 7 ODFW Adult Turkey Hunting Clinic ($, register), White River WA – info: see above 8-14 Idaho youth turkey hunting week 10 Last scheduled day of Lower Columbia spring Chinook fishery before run update 11-15 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting setting 2019 salmon fisheries, Rhonhart Park, California – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon 12 WDFW Special Needs Kids and Adults Fishing Events in Vancouver and Kennewick – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/kids/events.html 13 WDFW Kids Fishing Events in St. John, Kennewick and Lacey – info: see above 13-14 Oregon youth turkey hunting weekend 15 General spring turkey season opener in Idaho, Oregon and Washington; Opening day of Washington and many Oregon special-permit bear hunts 16 Washington Marine Area 4 lingcod opener 20 WDFW Spring Youth Fishing Frenzy in Spokane – info: see above 22 Fishing or bait opener on select Oregon waters including Crane Prairie and Wickiup Reservoirs, Odell Lake, and Sprague and Wood Rivers; Washington big game special permit application period opens 25 ODFW Hunter Education Women’s course ($, register), Hermiston – info: see above 27 Opening day of lowland lake season in Washington; WDFW Kids Fishing Events in Graham and Longview – info: see above

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1 Northern pikeminnow sport reward fishery begins at all stations on Columbia and Snake Rivers – info: pikeminnow.org; Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca lingcod opener 2 Tentative Washington Marine Areas 3-10 halibut opener (other dates: 4, 9, 11, 18, 24, 26); Tentative Columbia River Subarea, Washington Marine Area 2 halibut opener (other dates: 5, 9, 12, 24 in both, 26 in subarea) 2-5 Mid-Columbia Boat Show, Columbia Point Park & Marina, Richland, Washington – info: midcolumbiaboatshow.com 4 WDFW Kid’s Fishing Event, Clear Lake, Fairchild AFB – info: see above 9-11 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut weekend 10 ODFW Adult Beginner Wizard Falls Fly-Fishing Clinic ($, register), Camp Sherman – info: see above 15 Oregon fall controlled big game hunt permit purchase application deadline 16-18, 23-25 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut weekends 16-19 Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes – info: anacortesboatandyachtshow.com 22 Washington big game special permit application deadline

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FISHING

Surfperch Won’t Leave You In A Lurch ‘Underutilized,’ basic coastal fishery offers plenty of pan-sized specimens for spring anglers. By Randall Bonner

ith many of our fishing harvest opportunities shrinking or completely vanishing, there’s one in particular that has moved into the spotlight in recent years. Casting into the surf can be a fun alternative to chasing unicorn meat among a myriad of jetboats on spring Chinook rivers. Surfperch provide an abundance of harvest opportunity, with an aggregate limit of 15 fish in Oregon (12 in Washington), which is home to nine different viviparous species

classified taxonomically in the family of Embiotocidae. For those who don’t speak Greek, the name comes from embios, meaning “persistent,” and tokos, meaning “birth,” because they are one of the few fishes that give birth to their young instead of laying eggs or broadcast spawning. The embryo as well as the yolk are both nourished directly by the mother. They typically give birth during the fall, so spring is

the perfect time to gather a few for the table. This is also the time of year when surfperch typically begin to form schools tight to the shoreline to begin spawning. Even as the fishery grows in popularity, internet groups and forums specifically categorized for West Coast surfcasting or Oregon surfperch fishing are more relaxed about offering reports and information to

Surfperch represent an “underutilized fishery,” in the words of state managers, with plenty of these pan-sized specimens available on both the Oregon and Washington coasts. (TOBIAH ORIN MOSHIER)

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Northwest Sportsman 57

FISHING improve your success, so by all means, utilize them. These small communities are often very welcoming to new members, and great ambassadors to the sport of fishing in general. While the catch may be plentiful, much about Oregon’s Central Coast population of surfperch is still a mystery, so the Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages keeping a few for the dinner table and releasing the rest. The primary species takes three to four years to reach sexual maturity and the quantity of young they bear is relative to their size. Starry flounder, petrale and sand soles are sometimes a bycatch, and also offer a very generous harvest limit of 25 fish.

THE TWO MOST common species of surfperch are redtail and striped.

Smaller species like the walleye and shiner perch are also quite common, but snack size at best. The best part is that all species of surfperch live within 50 feet of the shoreline, so you don’t need a boat to target them. Having a surf rod that can handle slinging heavy weight long distances is definitely an advantage, but anything sensitive enough to detect strikes in the churning waves is also helpful. Sand shrimp, sidewinder crabs, clams and mussels are good bait options, but surfperch diet mostly consists of Pacific mole crabs, also known as sand fleas and sand crabs. If you can find a sandy area with these critters, they make great bait, and your quarry is probably nearby. If you’re fishing bait, a crappie rig and snelled baitholder hooks work

Where redtails hang out in divets along sandy beaches, striped surfperch like areas with more structure, like the water Kate Pospisil fishes behind a finger jetty on an incoming tide. (RANDALL BONNER)

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just fine, but a sliding weight gives you the advantage of being able to detect strikes in heavy surf and allows your presentation to move around a little more freely without being washed away. As far as hook size is concerned, consider whether you’d like to catch more or bigger fish, and choose appropriately. Clawfoot or medallion weights are vital at keeping your presentation from being tossed around in the surf. Harry’s Bait & Tackle (541-265-2407) in Newport is my favorite pitstop for all of the above, and don’t be afraid to ask for a few suggestions on where to go.

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FISHING Pospisil shows off a gorgeous striped surfperch caught while fishing with author Randall Bonner. He advises using a crappie rig with a weight at the bottom to catch these fish which often suspend in the water column. (RANDALL BONNER)

access offers some opportunity to be a little more mobile up and down the shoreline. Ona Beach and Fishing Rock are good places to look along the Central Coast, while Seaside and Gearhart are starting points on the North Coast. Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula is highly accessible and a good spot, while the sands up to Kalaloch can be productive. Try to avoid large concentrations of people, as many of the popular waysides, parks and recreational areas will be full of looky-loos asking what you’re doing every five minutes. If you can find access to a beach near residential areas, you’ll have a little more space to work with, and you won’t have to keep such a close eye on what’s behind you. Always check the local regulations for where you’re planning on fishing just to make sure you’re not entering one of Oregon’s marine

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FISHING reserves. Those are located at Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua and Redfish Rocks, and some are buffered by marine protected areas, which do allow fishing in places. For more details and rules, see oregonmarinereserves.com.

WHEN TARGETING REDTAILS over the sand, look for areas with a depression in the waves, or flat water just beyond the breakers. That sweet spot is where you find schooling fish. They are more likely to move up and down the shoreline than in and out, so if you find a school and lose it, move to your left or right instead of just trying to cast out further. Wearing waders is a good way to get a little closer, but respect the element of danger and never turn your back on the ocean. Having a stringer that you can carry and keep with you will also help keep your catch from washing away, or becoming a seagull snack on shore while you’re focused on casting into the waves. Once you learn to read the water,

For redtails, live bait in the form of any of the shelled critters you find on the beach works, as do soft plastics that mimic them, like this creature bait from Custom Tackle Works. (TOBIAH ORIN MOSHIER)

you’ll be able to spot “holes” in the surf, which could be as simple as an area where waves seem to meet from two different angles and just sort of die on the water’s surface. Anywhere a creek or estuary dumps into the ocean is another safe bet, as there’s a steady flow of food sources pouring into the surf. Timing is everything. If you’re not fishing on the incoming tide, the odds are stacked against you. All the little critters along the shoreline that are washed into the surf when the tide Along with generous access to the ocean in both states, limits are also large. How many you keep should depend on how much you can use right away, but in Oregon you can get right to taking care of your catch at the myriad fish-cleaning stations at marinas, launches and state parks. (TOBIAH ORIN MOSHIER) 62 Northwest Sportsman

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comes back in create a feeding frenzy. It may take a while for that frenzy to start or find a feeding school, so if you’re not getting bit in a few minutes, bounce around a little bit and try some different presentations. Using a dual presentation can give you an advantage of trying a couple different baits at once to find out what the fish want when they’re on a finicky bite. Swells are almost necessary to churn up food for redtails, though anything beyond 5 to 6 feet isn’t worth it to risk it for the biscuit. Not just because it’s dangerous, but big swells will also churn up lots of salty vegetables that make it frustrating to impossible to fish. Don’t rule out soft plastics or scent either. A small Mister Twister curltail grub in motor oil color is a classic

FISHING sand crab imitation. Berkley Gulp! Ghost Shrimp and Sandworms are excellent baits for redtails. You really only need about a 2-inch-sized bait, so you can split them up and be a little more conservative with them. UV sometimes makes a difference too. Rob Brown also sells a soft plastic creature bait that resembles a hellgrammite on his Custom Tackle Works website (customtackleworks), and it can be found on the shelves at Oregon Rod Reel & Tackle, on the northeast side of Eugene. ORRT also carries a wide selection of Thirsty Beads, which can aid your presentation by holding scent.

STRIPED SURFPERCH TEND to favor live bait over soft plastics, and they hold tighter to outcropping rocks and pilings. When the surf or the wind picks up, find areas tucked behind geographical wind and current breaks and you should find the fish. Read the water like you would for salmon or steelhead. If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something there to break the currents of the incoming (or outgoing) tides, fish the breaks in those currents or just beyond them. Small fingers or pilings off the jetties in estuaries are prime territory. These fish are opportunistic feeders that will often hold in that soft water waiting for food to wash over the structure. While redtails tend to hover along the bottom, striped will often suspend, so a crappie rig with the weight on the bottom is more ideal than a sliding weight set-up. Cast, reel the line tight, and raise the rod tip up so the two baits are suspended off the bottom. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re crawling out on the rocks, make sure you can get back when the tide begins to rise. And again, consider carrying a stringer to keep your catch close and secure. NS Whether filleted, skinned and deep-fried or grilled whole, surfperch are pretty tasty. The accessibility of the fishery and its minimal gear requirements make this a great option for beginners and anglers looking for a new or different challenge. (RANDALL BONNER) 64 Northwest Sportsman

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nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 65

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Work Strait Reefs For Big Lings T

he craving starts in early winter and builds with each passing month. I search the freezer in hopes of THE KAYAK GUYS finding a lingcod filet By Scott Brenneman hiding amongst the pile of vacuum-packed salmon. Ling is always the first fish to get depleted from my freezer; whenever I gaze at the salmon, I regret not spending more time fishing for

the white-meated fish the previous year. By the end of February the craving for a delicious meal becomes a compulsion. I check the surf reports for an opening to target these toothy creatures, ready and willing to make the drive to the Oregon Coast when conditions are favorable. The ocean taunts me. It rarely lies down, and when it does, it is not for long and hardly ever on a weekend. Occasionally the stars do align for a road trip down south, but

usually I must wait with anticipation for the Washington lingcod opener. With more favorable conditions during the spring, the plan is to head to the straits or the coast as soon as conditions allow. The straits are my first choice because the reefs hold more fish. And unlike Puget Sound, fishing holds up throughout the entire season. Most inside reefs are picked through after the first week. Marine Areas 4 and 5 offer protection from wind and larger

Midspring marks go-time for lingcod in Washington’s inland waters – April 16 in Marine Area 4, the western Strait of Juan de Fuca, and May 1 in the central and eastern straits and Puget Sound. Count on finding a jonesingfor-fillets Scott Brenneman and friends – here launching at Neah Bay – to be on the water in hopes of refilling the freezer. (SCOTT BRENNEMAN)

nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 67

COLUMN

The reef off Waadah Island, at Neah Bay, is a good example of fishy structure that lings like and what to look for elsewhere, says the author. It’s also a good place to catch bait like greenlings. (DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY) swells, which make them fishable from a kayak when conditions are marginal.

WHEN TARGETING LINGCOD, the reefs east of Tatoosh Island fish differently than those in other areas. Action along the coasts of Washington and Oregon is not heavily influenced by tides; success can be had throughout the daily cycle, with high slack offering the best time to catch a snaketooth. My experience on the Strait is just the opposite. There is good action during high slack, but the bigger lings are more willing to come out and play during max flood. The reef in front of Wadaah Island best illustrates the difference. It is a good representation of the ideal reef for lingcod. Its top is shallow at about 40 feet deep with a well-defined edge that quickly drops off to deeper water. Shallow reefs are essential if you want to get your lure to the bottom in faster currents. Popular and heavily fished, it is amazing how many fish it sustains. Action closer to Wadaah is always good 68 Northwest Sportsman

APRIL 2019 | nwsportsmanmag.com

for rockfish or greenlings. If you’re into live-baiting, start close to shore until you get a greenling or two. And if you’re new to this – or any other reef – spend some time zigzagging back and forth to define the edge of the reef on your fish finder. I will do this even if the charting software has contour lines that define the reef. I want to know exactly where the elevation abruptly changes below me. I have never fished reefs in the Straits with a pedal kayak; however, I have to concede this is the rare occasion where pedal power offers an advantage. When fishing in strong currents and wind, pedaling allows for much better control of your drift than paddling does. The cliffside dwellings these ravenous creatures call home are a small area and the longer your gear stays in this zone, the better your chances will be. It is easier to slow your drift from influence of wind and currents and control your track with a kayak that allows for hands-free fishing.

WAITING FOR THE current to speed up I will

work the flats with a Big Hammer swimbait or a Slug-Go on a 2-ounce jighead with usually mediocre results. When the current picks up on the incoming tide, it is time to work the ledge. Positioning and timing are essential for success. Set up shop at the western edge of the reef and work your way east. Control your drift so that you track off the shelf towards deeper water. Get your offering down fast; free-spool line out to get your lure to the bottom. A linecounter reel helps to identify when you’re close to touching bottom so that you can stop free-spooling beforehand. It will also show the depth for future reference when you hook into a big ling. Over the reef my line is near vertical as it touches bottom. As I drift over deeper water I let more line out to try and bounce my lure off the face of the ledge. When I lose contact with the rocky bottom, I reel in and repeat. Heavier weights are needed to keep bottom contact in the faster current. Everyone has their favorite lure and color combination for bigger lings. There are those who swear by live bait. I know

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Northwest Sportsman 69

COLUMN of someone who only uses herring. He cuts up strips from a white T-shirt and uses these cloth streamers to add motion to his bait. This works well for him. For fishing the backside edges of a reef, I have great success using the largest white curl-tail grub I can find, threaded onto an 8- to 16-ounce leadhead jig. I am a bit superstitious about making sure that the grub is threaded on with the tail pointing up.

The prize for figuring out where lings lurk and what they will bite is pounds and pounds of fillets. Kayak angler Rory Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor shows off a 40-inch, 25-pounder he caught off Neah Bay a few seasons back. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

MOST BOTTOMFISHING IS based on random luck. It is a grab bag where you are never quite sure what is on the other end of the line until you see it. Working the edges of reefs in strong currents is not at all random; you know exactly what you will hook into when your rod bends over and that is what makes it so fun. When tidal currents flow fast, the big lings get aggressive and there is nothing better than having a monster smash your lure as you walk it down a ledge. Wadaah is a popular shallow-water reef but many others share the same structural

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characteristics. Just like many salmon hot spots, those who discover really productive reefs that consistently hold beefy lingcod try to closely guard their secret. I certainly do. What I have found is that these hot

spots are everywhere; they are easy to find if you commit to exploring new areas. Sometimes it is as easy as changing up the time that you fish them in an area that you have fished many times before. NS

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Northwest Sportsman 73

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FISHING

Beginner’s Luck With a little good fortune and the fish gods on your side, you’re sure to catch something this time of year. By Sara Ichtertz

here is a brief moment in which my time on the river gives me nothing more than reflections when I step foot on it. As the snow dumps from the sky in this tiniest place I call home, I close my eyes, so perfectly seeing April on the river. Oh, how I am ready for the time of year in which I hike deepest into my forest. It’s not fish within the river that call me; rather, it’s the perfect time of year to chase waterfalls. These stunningly beautiful cascades bring me no harvest – not even the possibility of a headshake – but it is simply the power and serenity I feel when being able to let nature talk that draws me. I reflect about what I have experienced in runs past and wonder at what awaits me. These waterfalls in a sense shed the weight of the winter right off of me with their powerful mist. Rainbows form in the rays of the sun and I do not care what anyone says, there is magic within the woods when we choose to look for it. The powerful and yet at times just the most delicate of sounds that come from these creeks take me to a place words never could, and so this time of year is more like New Year to me than January 1.

EVEN AS IT preps me for the year, if what you possess is simply the desire to become a fishy soul, trust me, that is all you need. When looking back at my fishing adventures thus far, it is amazing how strong and true beginner’s luck actually is! Just deciding to test your luck can be

Besties Miley and Ava show off their catches of rainbow trout. “If what you possess is simply the desire to become a fishy soul, trust me, that is all you need,” writes author Sara Ichtertz, Ava’s mother. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

the hard part, but once you do, be prepared. Life for me has not been the same since I touched the bottom of that tiny reservoir 10 years ago. No sooner did I feel my split shot and worm come to a rest than did an undeniable feeling of life hit me too. “I got one, Roy, I really do!” This tiny trout was the first fish of my adult life and it came to me almost effortlessly. The joy and excitement all over Roy and Ruger (my first child, my fur child) made me feel so alive, so proud. Throughout the course of that fine

spring morning, Roy rowed me all over that tiny lake, the planters were biting and there was absolutely no place on Earth I would have rather been. Finding a bit of a slot close to a tiny island I got yet another bite, but it was nothing like the others. My ultralight rod was bent all the way over, peeling line like a total freak, and I knew it wasn’t a tiny fish! No, it was an 18-inch fatty rainbow and as she splashed around the surface Ruger was so excited, I thought he might just jump out of our little dinghy. With that monster in the bottom nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

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FISHING of the boat I was amazed. So was Roy. I remember being so proud to be putting on my own worm. That was all I was capable of at the time. The neat thing is that that was all I needed to be able to do. We went through that shelf one more time and what do you know? Once more that ultralight was put to work by another monster trout. Two casts, two monsters, and just like that Sara had her first ever limit! I know that beginner’s luck was meant for me and I wholeheartedly believe it is meant for you too. So, get out and embrace it as well.

IF I THINK about it, in the year I decided to stop dreaming and start doing, beginner’s luck was 100 percent with me. The timing in which I met crucial people such as Barbara (Northwest Sportsman, December 2018) was just as important as the luck the “fish gods” bestowed upon me through my entire first run. The springers upriver to this day are by far the most temperamental fish I “… I do not care what anyone says, there is magic within the woods when we choose to look for it,” says Ichtertz, who enjoys chasing waterfalls as a way to refresh herself between winter steelhead and spring Chinook seasons. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

have ever encountered. As the runs swim by and the time to target them once more arrives, I always think of my first run. What I wouldn’t give to have that many bobber downs again five years into this life on the river! Where I am now, I dare those bobbers to go down like they did my first run. However, they do not. There again, the fish gods were ensuring they got that hook buried deep within my heart, and they did. My first summer! Total luck. Even though I knew of the fish up the creek my mind wasn’t fully It was fishing for upriver springers that led the author to her beloved summers. “The fact the fish I hold dearest to my heart was placed before me by fate leads me to remember that there are no limits as long as we are brave enough to transform our dreams into goals,” she writes. (SARA ICHTERTZ) 78 Northwest Sportsman

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consumed by them quite yet – fishing yes, but steelhead, no. I hadn’t honestly put all angles together as far as the beautiful runs of fish that were constantly working their way home. Still, targeting springers, I had my big girl pants on and was drift fishing bait for them. Then there it was, a fish. “I got one,” I said to the man fishing to my right. I felt little on that gear, but it was a fish, no doubt. As the man excitedly encouraged me throughout the fight my eyes finally saw it. “Oh, it’s a shiny little one!” I remember that so clearly. But it wasn’t a shiny spring salmon at all. As the man netted me up, dancing in delight, he let me know it was a summer steelhead.

FISHING I had no idea I could be targeting summer steelhead, as I didn’t have many clues at that point. All I had was desire and beginner’s luck on my side. The fact the fish I hold dearest to my heart was placed before me by fate leads me to remember that there are no limits as long as we are brave enough to transform our dreams into goals. When we do, fate has a beautiful way of stepping in and helping us find where we belong.

THE TRUTH IS, spring is the perfect time to envision new beginnings, new chapters. It is perfect for rallying the trout gear and sharing those little buggers with those who know very little. How beautiful is it to know you helped spark a joy that your loved one may not have even known they were missing, had you not shared it with them? As I begin to ready my springer gear, I feel blessed for the series of events and luck that have been placed in my life. I am thankful for those who made them possible, and mostly I feel thankful that I realized a dream is just a dream unless you set it in motion. Only you can do that for yourself, so remember that when you are dreaming of what could be. It can only be once you decide that it will be done. I speak of this firsthand and in doing so I have found my heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS Editor’s note: For more on Sara’s adventures, see For The Love Of The Tug on Facebook.

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Beginner’s luck and the fish gods are always on the side of anglers new and old this time of year. “The truth is, springtime is the perfect time to envision new beginnings, new chapters.” (SARA ICHTERTZ)

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FISHING

Bullish On The Bull Curvy, slow-flowing Northwest Montana river transitioning from brown trout fishery to native species stronghold. By Mike Wright

n a warm, mid-October day many years ago our yellow school bus turned onto Highway 56 en route to a football game in Troy, Montana. The road began centuries ago as an Indian trail and was expanded by smugglers to bring Chinese laborers down from Canada to work on the Northern Pacific Railroad. Apparently in the late 1800s no one had sent the military to guard the border. The path was later improved, allowing better access for settlers coming into this section of Northwest Montana. Today, the highway is a lightly used route, just a little over 25 miles long, but it is the only paved road in the area, providing a link between U.S. Highway 2 and Montana Route 200 and relatively more populated regions. Visitors are often struck by the scenic beauty of the valley the byway courses through, especially in fall, with the gold patchwork of the birch, cottonwood and tamarack intermixed with the dark green of the pine and fir stands. The snow-covered peaks of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness stand like silent sentinels guarding the lower elevations below. This was my introduction to the valley, and I was definitely impressed. I was even more impressed when our bus began paralleling a narrow, slowmoving ribbon of water snaking its way along the valley floor. I mentioned in passing that the

Just east of the border between North Idaho and Northwest Montana, the Bull River cuts a lazy course through forested mountainsides. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home to brown, cutthroat and bull trout. (JOE MABEL, FLICKR, CC 2.0)

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FISHING

Where other streams in the Inland Northwest incise steep paths, the Bull meanders, and its slow, “crystal-clear flows dictate a great deal more care in delivering precise presentations,” notes author Mike Wright. (MIKE WRIGHT)

river looked as though it might be worthy of a few well-placed casts. Overhearing my comment, one of our players observed that although he had never fished it, the stream was supposed to have some very large brown and bull trout lurking in its depths. Another player mentioned that it was his understanding that there were also some nice rainbows and cutthroat in the river. Although the Bull River intrigued me and I would like to have tried my luck that day, it was so far away from my usual fishing haunts that my interest in this scenic stretch of water looked like it would be unrequited. However, a number of years later I moved to North Idaho, which rekindled my interest in the river. Although it took far longer than I expected, I finally had my chance to fish the Bull and even though it can be challenging, I was not disappointed. Additionally, I discovered several 84 Northwest Sportsman

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good spots in the general vicinity for those occasions when the trout in the Bull develop a case of lockjaw.

THE BULL IS a rather unique body of water, at least for this part of the Northwest. Most streams have a steeper gradient, with moderate to fast-moving water that doesn’t afford fish a great deal of time to inspect an angler’s offering before it is gone. But the slow, meandering nature of the Bull, in conjunction with its crystalclear flows, dictate a great deal more care in delivering precise presentations. Trout, at least in the middle and upper portions, have the luxury of careful examination before accepting the offering. The average depth of the river runs between 4 to 6 feet, but there are some sections that are deceptively deep, running up to 20 feet. Although the majority of the river is slow moving, the last 5 miles above the confluence with the Clark Fork

flow through a steep canyon with a considerable amount of relatively shallow, whitewater rapids. This canyon section is floatable during spring runoff or high water, but it is recommended that only experienced whitewater rafters attempt it during these periods. This section is accessible in low water; however, it requires dragging your boat or raft over long sections of rocks and gravel. You might consider checking with your doctor or insurance agent before attempting this. Floating is probably the best method of fishing the Bull, given the fact that access to the river is severely limited. The majority flows through private property. However, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is working with landowners to make more of the river accessible to the general public through Block Management and other joint cooperative agreements. Considering its close proximity

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FISHING to Bull Lake, it might seem safe to assume the source of the river is the lake. However, this is not the case. The river is actually formed by springs just west of the lake, keeping it considerably cooler. This in turn creates two very different fisheries. The lake is primarily a warmwater fishery, populated with bass, crappie and bluegill, as well as pike. With the springs supplemented by small, swiftly moving snowfield streams, the river remains relatively cool even in the warmest months of summer and provides excellent habitat for trout.

Wright terms the brown drake – a type of mayfly – the Bull’s “most notable” hatch, with peak activity right after spring runoff. Along with long-tailed versions of that insect, other bug-imitating dry fly patterns to bring along include caddis, stonefly, midge and pale morning dun imitations. Nymphs, streams and leeches are good wet flies, while bait under a strike indicator will perform better than lures, at least in the slower upper and middle areas of the river. (MIKE WRIGHT)

ALTHOUGH THE RIVER is not overly weedy, it does provide enough aquatic vegetation to support prolific insect hatches. Probably the most notable is the brown drake. These mayflies are large for a dry fly (sizes 6 to 10), and the hatch usually peaks just after spring runoff has occurred. After a long, lean winter, the plump,

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inviting insects can trigger a feeding frenzy among the resident trout. Caddis, stonefly, midge, and pale morning dun hatches also occur on the Bull, but not to the same intensity as the brown drake. Again, because of the clear, slow-

moving water, precise, delicate presentations are a must. It might also be advantageous to employ a fluorocarbon leader and tippet to avoid detection by the fish. When surface action isn’t happening, nymphs such as Pheasant

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FISHING Tails, Hare’s Ears and Princes, along with San Juan Worms, can be effective, as can other types of patterns like black or brown Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and Egg-sucking Leeches. Since there are some very deep holes in the upper and middle portions of the river, sink-tip line might be a helpful addition to your fishing gear. For the lure fisherman, the nature of the upper and middle Bull presents some challenges. Water clarity and slow flows make it difficult to cast to fish without spooking them, but fishing bait, especially with a strike indicator, floated close to undercut banks and through deeper holes can be effective. The canyon section is better suited to lure fishing, though getting into these waters can be somewhat problematic.

Best known for Teutonic trout, the river is also the site of state efforts to restore native cutts and bulls. (MIKE WRIGHT)

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A NUMBER OF years ago the Bull had a reputation of having a very robust brown trout spawning run from the Cabinet Gorge Reservoir. Fish averaging 4 to 5 pounds, with some ranging up to 10 pounds would make their way up the river each fall. However, in recent years the run has declined noticeably as the reservoir’s population has dropped considerably from its former glory years. “In our netting counts for the last few years, we feel lucky if we capture more than three or four browns,” notes Ryan Kreiner, an FWP fisheries biologist. It has been theorized that some of this decline may be attributed to the fact a number of these fish have become permanent residents of the river and do not migrate back to the reservoir. This behavior has been documented with cutthroat, where some of the adfluvial, or lakedwelling, trout became have become fluvial, or river dwelling. Whatever the reason, there simply isn’t a largescale spawning run of browns into the river any more, but there still is a fairly reasonable number of resident fish available to the angler. FWP has been working with Avista Utilities, which operates Cabinet

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Northwest Sportsman 91

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Gorge Dam, on a program that should be very beneficial to the Bull River fishery, as well as other streams in the area. In 2001 fisheries biologists began collecting bull trout from below the dam and transporting them above it. Many of these char are migrating into the Bull and its tributaries. They are a protected species and if caught must be released immediately. This program has been so promising that two years ago the same procedures were implemented with cutthroat. “The hope is that these big spawners will create more cutthroat and add to the angling opportunities,” says Kreiner. “The Bull River provides a good habitat for large fluvial cutthroat trout, and perhaps with more reproduction we could have more fish in the river. Plus, even the strictly migratory fish may spend up to one or two months in the river.” This would definitely please fishermen who visit the area.

IN ADDITION TO the improvement of the trout populations of the Bull, FWP has also undertaken a program to restore the native vegetation along the banks of the river. Before settlers moved into the valley, the meadow portion was a cedar forest. As the area became settled the trees and other native vegetation began to rapidly disappear. To make matters worse, scientists persuaded settlers to plant reed canary grass in the cleared areas. This was a major mistake. Canary grass can grow up to 9 feet tall and it completely crowds out native vegetation. Domestic livestock will not use it for grazing, and wildlife also find it somewhat less than appetizing. With the cooperation of landowners, FWP personnel are working to eliminate the grass and replace it with willows to stabilize the banks and reduce erosion. Further back, native trees and grasses will be planted and surrounded by fencing to prevent damage from wildlife. When the vegetation is mature the fencing will be removed. This will be a long-term project

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FISHING with the ultimate goal of bringing the Bull River back to being a highquality, blue ribbon trout stream, plus make it better wildlife habitat.

BUT EVEN AS the state, Avista and a number of other concerned organizations have worked hard to improve fishing opportunities in extreme Northwest Montana, there could be a fly in the proverbial ointment. Hecla Mining has proposed two major operations inside the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. The mining operation itself would be underground and the entrance would be outside wilderness boundaries, but the extraction area would be directly underneath the wilderness. Wording in the General Mining Act of 1872 left a loophole for Hecla to apply for a permit and still abide by requirements of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Although the majority of the mining activities will be in an adjacent

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Though surrounded by national forests and paralleled by state and county roads, much of the Bull is bordered by private land. A wildlife management area touches it below Bull Lake, while thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a rentable Forest Service guard station on its east side, and a takeout and campground at its mouth on Cabinet Gorge Reservoir. (USFS)

drainage, it is generally conceded that the operation will reduce stream flows in 26 miles of rivers and streams. This may in turn affect at least one feeder stream in the Bull River drainage, the East Fork. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an important spawning ground for the endangered bull trout,

plus the mining could negatively affect the cutthroat recovery program. It is also feared that there would be a significant water temperature increase in the lower part of the river, which would negatively impact one of the best features of the Bull, its colder

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FISHING flows. Several environmental groups have been fighting this mine proposal for many years, so it is hoped that a solution can be found that can maintain the recovery program on the Bull and ensure the habitat integrity of other water bodies in the area.

FISHING THE BULL can be a very rewarding

A video released last year on YouTube by the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group details habitat restoration efforts on the Bull, including placing mats to kill nonnative reed canary grass along its banks and then replanting with willows. “You know, 50 years, maybe 100 years, this place will look better than it did when I first saw it, and have bigger and more fish,” says Brad Warrington, a landowner along the river. (SCREENSHOT FROM LOWER CLARK FORK WATERSHED GROUP)

experience, giving anglers the possibility of landing some braggingsize brown, bull, rainbow and cutthroat trout, many ranging in excess of 20 inches. An added attraction is the fact that it is located in a very scenic area, without much fishing pressure. With the efforts to increase the number of trout in the stream and habitat improvements underway the future looks very bright for this rather remote fishery. If a solution can be found for the mining situation, the productivity of the Bull River and the other fisheries in the region will continue to improve, making this a very desirable fishing destination. NS

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FISHING

Party

Primer Spring trout fishing is a longtime tradition in the Northwest, and a great way to get kids on the water. Kiran Walgamott shows off a catch from last season. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

Washington’s trout season gets going with year-round lakes receiving spring releases and then really starts to rock with April’s big day. By Mark Yuasa

pring is nature’s way of saying let’s party and thousands of anglers will be celebrating Washington’s statewide lowland lakes’ trout opener the weekend of April 27-28. “We’re getting ready for another exciting trout season and if the weather’s ideal, we should see some decent fishing on opening day,” says Justin Spinelli, a Department of Fish and Wildlife regional fisheries biologist. Anglers can look forward to trout plants on par with last year and WDFW hatchery crews have been busy trucking more than 16.3 million trout and kokanee to 553 waterbodies across the state. According to Spinelli, the Puget Sound region’s projected plant will be close to 500,000 trout, plus more than 5 million fingerling planted in 2018. Several years ago, WDFW came up with a cost-effective way to produce larger catchable-sized trout

in hatcheries, which has been a hit, according to angler surveys taken from previous openers. The standardized catchable-sized trout is now 11 inches compared to 8 inches in previous seasons and anglers should find about 2.17 million of these trout lurking in lowland lakes. Another 126,200 “jumbo” trout measuring 14 or more inches long and 1 pound or larger in weight will also be going into hundreds of statewide lakes. Fishermen can follow the latest jumbo trout stocking at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/plants/weekly.

ON TOP OF that, more than 14 million trout fry, fingerlings and smaller-sized trout previously stocked should now be averaging 8 to 12 inches long. The kokanee fry were stocked in 2018 for the 2020 and 2021 fisheries, while trout fry, fingerling and the put, grow and take fish were stocked in spring and fall of 2018 for this year’s fisheries. The survival rate of fry and fingerlings largely depends on water

and forage conditions in each lake that WDFW carefully manages. Many Eastern Washington lakes are managed to create decent fry survival. “All of these plants will provide excellent fishing,” Spinelli said. “Anglers should also look beyond the opener, since the plants will boost fishing through the early summer and possibly even longer in some of the deeper-bodied lakes.” However, the only downside is that for the second year in a row no triploid plants will occur statewide due to WDFW budget constraints during this biennium. Triploids are sterile trout that can grow rapidly during their first year and are voracious feeders with the potential to reach trophy size. In past years, these fish were purchased by WDFW from a contracted private grower. For 2017’s season, a total of 42,000 triploid trout averaging 1½ pounds apiece were planted for the opener in Westside lakes.

IN KING COUNTY, 12 lakes will be stocked nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

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FISHING with trout for opening day. They are Cottage, 11,000 trout (2.8 fish per rod average last year on opening day – five trout is a daily limit); Geneva, 5,500 (4.3); Langlois, 5,000 (2.1); Margaret, 5,000, plus 7,500 cutthroat fry last fall (2.9); Mill Pond, 900; North, 9,500 (2.6); Old Fishing Hole, 250; Pine, 12,000 (2.9); Shady, 3,400; Steel, 8,000 (3.2); Walker, 2,500 (4.4); and Wilderness, 12,000 (2.5). Elsewhere in the Puget Sound region, seven lakes in Pierce County will be stocked for opening day; two in Island County; four in Skagit County; 12 in Snohomish County; six in Whatcom County; two in Grays Harbor County; six in Thurston County; seven in Kitsap County; two in Pacific County; six in Jefferson County; seven in Kitsap County; 17 in Mason County; and one in San Juan Island County. Other notable Western Washington lakes during last year’s opener were: Jefferson County: Silent, 5.0; Kitsap County: Panther, 3.4; Lewis County:

For the second year in a row, no triploids are being released in Washington lakes, but state managers have upped their game, rearing keepers that now average 11 inches, three better than formerly. (MARK YUASA)

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Northwest Sportsman 101

FISHING Mineral, 2.9; Mason County: Aldrich, 3.8; Clara, 3.1; Haven, 3.9; Wooten, 3.8; Pierce County: Bay, 3.5; Clear, 3.5; Crescent, 3.2; Rapjohn, 3.9; Snohomish County: Bosworth, 3.3; Echo in Maltby, 3.1; Ki, 3.1; Whatcom County: Cain, 3.8; Toad, 3.5. In Eastern Washington the top lakes were: Douglas County: Jameson, 3.6; Ferry County: Ellen, 4.5; Grant County: Blue, 3.3; Park, 4.5.

CAN’T WAIT FOR April 27? If you’re looking to get a jump start on trout fishing prior to the opener, target the hundreds of lakes that are open yearround, many of which will be stocked through late spring. In King County, try Alice (3,600 trout planted in March and April), Beaver (7,000 in April), Desire (8,000 in April), Green (13,500 in March-May), Meridian (16,700 in March), Morton (5,500 in April), North (9,500 in April) and

Rattlesnake (3,500 in March). In Snohomish County, try Ballinger (9,000 in April), Tye (3,500 in April-May), Blackmans (1,500 in April), Flowing (6,800 in April-May), Gissburg Ponds (4,000 in MarchApril), Ketchum (2,000 in March), Lost (1,500 in March), Panther (1,500 in March), Roesiger (3,000 in April), Shoecraft (6,500 in March) and Silver (8,000 in April). In Mason County, try Spencer (12,644 in April-May) and Island (4,400 in April). In Thurston County, try St. Clair (24,000 in April-May) and Black (39,350 in March-April). In Pierce County, try Tanwax (5,500 in April-May), Spanaway (18,000 in March) and Bonney (1,020 in March). For weekly stocking updates, go to the aforementioned WDFW website.

TIPPING THE SCALES your way on Washington’s trout waters begins with keeping the fishing gear and

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tackle simple. It doesn’t cost a lot to get started, with a rod and reel combo running about $30 to $70, and a more expensive one from $80 to $200. The fishing pole length should be 6 to 7 feet, and relatively light, in the 4- to 10-pound range. Best choice is a medium-sized spinning reel that can hold more than 100 yards of 6-pound-test fishing line. Attach one or two No. 9 egg sinkers with a small barrel swivel to main line. The length of leader is the most important and the storebought pretied 12-inch leaders are way too short. Leaders should be 3to 6-pound test and 18 to 30 inches long. As for hooks, think small and use an egg hook in a size 8 or 10 or try a No. 14 or 16 treble. The best “old school” baits are nightcrawlers, maggots, salmon eggs and scented marshmallows, but the spotlight shines on soft dough baits

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FISHING Between previous years’ kokanee fry plants, last fall’s juvenile trout and this spring’s catchables, “Anglers should also look beyond the opener since the plants will boost fishing through the early summer and possibly even longer in some of the deeper-bodied lakes,” state fisheries biologist Justin Spinelli tips fishermen like the author’s son Tiegan Yuasa. (MARK YUASA)

like Berkley PowerBaits that come in all sorts of colors and varieties – egg, maggot and worm, to name a few. If you plan to use a fly pattern, go with something like a black or blackolive colored Woolly Bugger in a size 8 or 10 attached to a 5- or 6-foot leader and trolled weightless close to the surface. Boat anglers will troll with a Wedding Ring (not your mom’s) or a gang flasher with a worm, maggot or salmon egg laced with a tiny piece of scented dough bait or small spoon like a Dick Nite, Triple Teaser or Luhr Jensen Super Duper, among others. Bank anglers will usually cast out a bobber with their presentation just below the surface in 3 to 6 feet of water. Others will send their bait down deeper where it hangs a few feet off the bottom. Most stocked trout will school 104 Northwest Sportsman

APRIL 2019 | nwsportsmanmag.com

near the surface, and many tend to congregate right around where the hatchery truck placed them in the lake, usually right along the shoreline, boat ramps and docks. These planted trout will stay just under the surface in 3 to 5 feet of water before they acclimate to their new surroundings and then eventually move to deeper areas of the lake. A fishing license is required (youth under age 15 fish for free) as well as a parking pass at state accesses, the one that comes with your license at WDFW lakes, the Discover Pass on state parks and forests lands. For info, go to wdfw.wa.gov. WDFW has a great fishing resource website where you can get tips. For Fish Washington, go to wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/washington and for Great Washington Getaways, go to wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/vacation. NS

TOP EASTERN WASHINGTON LAKES There may be fewer lowland opener lakes in Eastern Washington, but it’s just as big doin’s as west of the crest, especially at destinations such as Grant County’s Sun Lakes Chain, Douglas County’s Jameson Lake and Okanogan County’s state park quartet – Alta, the twin Conconullies and Pearrygin. They annually produce well, primarily fat rainbows but browns and kokanee do turn up at some locations. Those aren’t the only late April lakes in the region, but perhaps some of the best prospects can be found in Spokane-based biologist Randy Osborne’s district. “I would guess that Badger is going to be one of the better trout lakes this spring,” he said last month about the upper Channeled Scablands lake which was rehabbed in 2015 and then restocked with a very heavy hand. “There’s a lot of fish there to be caught,” Osborne says. “Williams Lake should fish good as well,” he adds. “West Medical – we killed that after last fall, but it will be stocked with a healthy dose of catchables and broodstock fish to get it going.” Yellow perch are starting to cut into the productivity at Fish Lake near Cheney, but it still should fish “OK” this season, forecasts Osborne. He also expects Clear Lake near Medical Lake to be consistent. Osborne also has two year-round options: Lake Spokane/Long Lake, which has been producing good trout fishing this past winter and last year. It also has walleye, and he encourages anglers to target them. “We’ve sampled some to 10 pounds.” And Pacific Lake, north of Odessa. “I went out there last year and it was crazy good,” says Osborne. “I was just sampling with rod and reel and in two hours caught 36 fish. They ranged from 14 to 17 inches. When the ice gets off, it should be good.” –NWS

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COLUMN

North Sound ’Bow Lakes Primed For Season W

hatcom and Skagit Counties have some of the By Doug Huddle most consistent troutyielding waters to be found in Northwest Washington. In fact, says Justin Spinelli, Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 4 resident fish biologist, two of recent history’s top three rainbow producers in the region are Lakes Padden and Silver, both in Whatcom. Spinelli reports that stocking allocations, based on hatchery facility production capacities, will stay close to last season’s. So with cooperation from April weather, the coming 2019 trout opener is expected to equal recent inaugural performances. For those laying out angling plans for opening day and the weeks beyond, there are eight seasonal waters in both counties which can be counted on to yield limits.

NORTH SOUND

LAKE MCMURRAY The most spacious of Skagit County’s hatchery rainbow stocked lakes, 160-acre McMurray attracts anglers from several counties to the south on the opener. Trolling is possible in the lake’s deeper middle section, or anglers can anchor at either end to still-fish. Rainbows make up the lion’s share of the catch, with a few native cutthroat and perhaps a landlocked salmon or two; perch, black crappie and largemouth bass come on in mid-May. Launching and rules: The tight WDFW access is graveled, just accommodating small trailered craft, and it can get crowded. By county ordinance the lake boat speed limit is 5 mph. Getting there: From Interstate 5 at Conway, drive east on State Route 534 5 miles to Highway 9. The public access is on the lake’s south end. Parking spills over on the narrow access road out to the highway.

Kaitlynn Campion shows off two nice rainbows she caught on 2017’s lowland lakes opener at Whatcom County’s Silver Lake, which has been one of the region’s best in recent years. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)

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COLUMN LAKE SIXTEEN Locals would just as soon the outside world not know about 41-acre Sixteen, as it always yields good crops of imported rainbows at season’s start. Watchful anglers will find an occasional naturalorigin trout on the ends of their line, most often as a consequence of trolling in close to the weedy shoreline. Opening day catches mainly come from the approximately 6,000 hatchery rainbows put in, though pristine-finned native sea-run cutthroat or their offspring will show up. Launching and rules: A graveled WDFW ramp handles up to small trailered craft. By county ordinance, gas-powered motors are banned and the lake speed limit is 5 mph. Getting there: Take State Route 534 east from I-5 at Conway, turn left on the gravel access road. Parking’s tight here, but under no circumstances should you beach your rig on the county road.

LAKE ERIE Out of its fertile drafts, Fidalgo Island’s 111-acre Erie once served up some

beautiful rainbow trout, remarkably a few to 9 pounds. These hefty trout grew from stocked fingerlings, a cheaper way to subsidize fisheries, however, the double whammy of wintering cormorants coupled with competition from illegally introduced perch put an end to that. Get here early and, with the crowds, plan to still-fish for a while before there’s room to troll. Lake Erie Grocery, on the southeast shore, sells fishing tackle, ice and a fee-access launch. In your catch will be rainbow trout and pernicious perch. Launching and rules: The graveled WDFW ramp has a shallow drop-off, but accommodates small trailered boats. Maneuvering room is tight, as is off-road parking. There are no local county onwater rules as of yet. Getting there: From I-5 at Burlington, drive west on State Route 20 heading for Whidbey Island. Past the Sharpes Corner roundabout take Lake Campbell Road west from the highway for about 2 miles. Parking spills over onto an adjacent county

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HEART LAKE By boat and angler headcount, 61-acre Heart can be just as crowded as nearby Erie, but will be no less rewarding on the opener. Unlike Erie there’s good shore fishing at the ramp, as well as along the road and in the City of Anacortes forestlands. Bank-borne trout seekers do almost as well as those in stationary boats, the sheer numbers of those thwarting trolling. Rainbows predominate in opener creels, though a few tiny bluegills will nibble your bait, too. Launching and rules: A concrete puncheon ramp with a shallow drop-off is managed by the city’s parks department. It accommodates up to small trailered craft. By city ordinance, the speed limit is 5 mph with no wake. Getting there: Take Heart Lake Road north from Lake Erie Road or drive south on Heart Lake Road from 11th Avenue in Anacortes. Some off-road parking, with spill-over onto county road.

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COLUMN TOAD LAKE With carryovers sweetening the experience, 29-acre Toad treats both its still- as well as troll-fishing faithful well on the opener. Tucked away in a nondescript foothills notch northeast of Bellingham, Toad gets less attention as an angling hotspot, which tickles its trouters. Some 50 to 80 trolling boats can fit in its confines, and dry-foot anglers will find another scarce commodity here: public dock fishing space. Be aware that there is no public access on the southwest shore down Pebble Beach Road in Emerald Lake Estates. Trespassers there could be cited. The catch consists of hatchery rainbows, including the aforementioned carryovers and a few kokanee. Launching and rules: The graveled WDFW access handles cartoppers and small trailered craft, but has limited maneuvering room. By county ordinance, gas motors and wakes are forbidden. Getting there: Toad’s sole public access is at the end of Toad Lake Road, up from Academy Street off North Shore Drive.

The parking area fills fast and latecomer vehicles spill over well up the narrow entry lane.

Camp 2 Road and drive about .2 mile to the access at the outlet. Off-road parking is very limited.

CAIN LAKE

LAKE PADDEN

Another of Whatcom’s out-of-the-way locals’ waters, 72-acre Cain has shed its historic rap as a slow starter, now yielding three- to five-trout takehomes every year on its inaugural. Besides a bevy of big hatchery rainbows, trollers might tie into a few naturally spawned kokanee from a naturalized population. Perch and largemouth bass start biting later this spring. Launching and rules: The graveled WDFW accommodates up to small trailered boats. By county ordinance gas motors are banned, as are wakes of the boat kind. Getting there: Take Lake Whatcom Boulevard east from Bellingham through Sudden Valley to the south end of Lake Whatcom continuing on the road to Alger, or drive south on I-5 to Alger, then drive east on Cain Lake Road until it curves back into Whatcom County. Turn left on

The most angler-friendly waters in Whatcom County, prodigiously stocked 152-acre Padden never disappoints its opening day admirers. And unlike most other waters, because of the surrounding city park, shore fishing space abounds, plus there are two floating docks and a revetment for disabled fishers on the northwest side as well. During the first-day festivities almost anything works, from bait floated off the bottom with marshmallows to trolling with any of a wide array of lures. The catch is primarily hatchery rainbow trout with an occasional kokanee or cutthroat trout. Launching and rules: Bellingham Parks Department maintains a single concrete puncheon ramp, suitable for short trailered craft, cartoppers and carry-ins. By ordinance gas motors are not allowed. Getting there: Drive about 2 miles south

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Skagit River Catch and Release

The days are getting longer and spring is in the air. The sweet smell of cottonwood buds reminds a select few of us that our favorite season has arrived: the catch and release season for wild steelhead. In this case, not just any wild steelhead but the legendary and hallowed Skagit River steelhead! The Skagit River in Northwest Washington is where it all began in many anglers’ minds. Once home to the largest steelhead run in the state comprised of native and hatchery fish, anglers flocked to the Skagit like the “Cowlitz of the North” as little as just 20 years ago. Angler pressure, nets, poor ocean conditions and predation all took their toll and the once mighty Skagit lost its luster and crowned status.

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With increased protections and the river closed to fishing during primetime for many seasons, the Skagit River has new life and now supports a wild run of steelhead that is robust enough to allow a catch and release season. This fishery is not for everyone and if a dead fish in the cooler is how a successful day is measured, then one need not apply. Many anglers on the Skagit would call a single tug from these great fish a successful day! Make no mistake, however, these fish are some of the largest in the state and many documented steelhead have tipped the scales over 30 pounds over the years. Battling any fresh wild steelhead in a river this large should be taken seriously and fly or gear choice should be on the heavier side. Fishing from a boat “under power” is not permitted. Most choose to angle from their favorite gravel bar and this adds to the welcomed challenge. A trustworthy jet boat is an advantage in navigating the large river and its side channels, and it gives the ability to access the choicest open runs. Just make sure to read and understand the strict regulations on the Skagit and come with a patient attitude because you will need it. Those who that truly appreciate April on the Skagit and invest their time will be richly rewarded in silver. Have fun and be safe out there, from the folks at Wooldridge Boats!

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COLUMN on Samish Way from I-5. Parking is available on the golf course (east) side of the park or near the tennis courts (northwest side). Launch parking spills over to the golf course lot.

SILVER LAKE Two public access points, including a fine park, and a substantial dose of trout make 173-acre Silver one of Whatcom’s premier opening day angling options. The county park’s opener celebration is a one-stop fishing experience with an early-morning trout derby, a pancake breakfast and rowboats for rent, plus fishing supplies for sale for the unprepared. It can be chilly before sunlight hits at midmorning, but fishing action makes up for the cool start. Would-be trollers should be prepared to plunk for a while in the morning, until the fleet thins out. Hatchery rainbow trout, a few cutthroat trout and maybe an occasional eastern brook trout will be in most creels. Anglers should expect bass and sunfish, too. Launching and rules: The WDFW north end ramp accommodates small trailered

boats. Silver Lake County Park to the south is small-trailer-boat capable, too. Motors are allowed at all hours, but at idle speed with no wake by ordinance from opening day to May 20. Getting there: Drive east on Mount Baker Highway, SR 542, to Maple Falls, then north on Silver Lake Road about 4 miles. The county park access is at the lake’s south end, and the state access is off a side road at the north end.

WHAT TO USE Famished because their gravy train didn’t come with them from the hatchery and unfamiliarity with their now expansive surrounding make these trout voracious feeders, therefore almost everything thrown at them provokes a bite or strike. Rather than overstocking with one angling mode’s tackle, anglers are better served taking a smorgasbord-like assortment of gear, including bait for stillfishing, a generous box of smaller trout fly patterns, and a grab bag of back-ups of the most tried-and-true lures for trolling or casting.

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With this choice-of-style approach, when hitting a lake on opening day, you’ll be able to adapt to the conditions of the morning, still-fishing if there’s not room to troll or wetting a chironomid if you just can’t set the hook on a bait nibbler. You’ll be able to switch to a more suitable mode of angling which fits the mood and attention span of the kids or grandkids. Also, don’t be reluctant to pull up stakes and head for nearby B-list waters. In Whatcom County, Fazon, Baker, Squalicum (flyfishing only), Samish, Mirror and Whatcom are good reasonable options. Skagit County offers Pass (catch and release, flyfishing only), Campbell, Clear, Grandy, Big and Shannon, among its alternate angling venues. NS

NEXT ISSUE More lowland lakes, spring fishing the lower Skagit River. Editor’s note: Doug Huddle lives in Bellingham, is retired from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and has written about hunting and fishing in the Northwest for more than 35 years.

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COLUMN

Get Ready For Trout Opener W

hen it comes to April there are few things that can overshadow the opening day of the SOUTH SOUND lowland lakes trout season in WashingBy Jason Brooks ton. This is a yearly “rite of passage” for the angler who is ready for winter to be over and get out fishing. As a young angler I remember staying up the night before the opener – back then it was a Sunday – and going through my tackle box. Organizing and reorganizing gear until everything was “just right.” Putting new line on fishing reels. Getting the rods all rigged and ready. My father had a small rowboat which we would also slide into the rear of his truck so the next morning we could get an early start. Like most anglers, that magical late April day provides me with some of the fondest memories of my childhood.

AS THE FOURTH Saturday of this month approaches make sure you are ready to hit the lake. If you are bank bound, get the rods rigged and have a plan on where to go. With the popularity of this day increasing via internet postings and “secret spots” spied upon using Google Earth it is hard to find any seclusion. Having a few places picked out ahead of time makes for a better day when opening morning arrives. This may entail a scouting trip to scope out the shorelines, boat ramps, access sites, and public parks at some of the lakes you plan on fishing to see if there have been any changes since you last hit the water. Several years ago I headed to a lake that I grew up fishing. I know of a certain rocky shoreline area that has a drop-off where

Washington’s trout opener is a great time to get kids, friends and family on the water, but it’s also still a kick in the pants for grizzled veterans like author Jason Brooks, here with a pair of rainbows from a South Sound lake. (JASON BROOKS) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

Northwest Sportsman 115

COLUMN the trout like to hide. Imagine my surprise when I got there only to find that a house had been built above that rock. Turns out that the spot was actually on undeveloped private land that the previous owner never cared to keep people out of. Then over the winter someone bought the land and put a house on it! Sometimes you get a pleasant surprise like a new dock installed or expanded parking. Either way, it is nice to get out and look around before opening day. If you have a boat, do us all a favor and make sure the motor starts before you back it down to the ramp. Along with that, take the trailer out to a large parking lot a few days before and practice your backing-up skills. Remember, some etiquette goes a long way. Have your boat ready to launch before you back it down the ramp and when it is time to pull the boat out of the water, secure it to the trailer and remove it as quickly as you can. The parking lot is the place to get things ready or to clean things up, not the launch or the dock. Not only should you have practiced

backing and be ready to launch, but you need to be safe and legal. Check your boat tabs in case you forgot to renew them last July. Double check the trailer lights. Life jackets need to be accessible and in good working condition, a noise-making device and throwable life preserver has to be ready, and you must have your boaters card by now. Organizing your boat will help make sure everything is ready to go.

WITH SCOUTING AND prep work out of the way, it’s time to fish! Just remember that recently planted trout will likely be near the surface until they get acclimated to the lake. This lends itself well to trolling very slowly around the lake just off of the shoreline. Since the trout can vary from recently stocked 8-inchers to 18-plus-inch triploids or carryovers it is enjoyable to use a lightweight setup. I prefer to use a very light-action rod such as the St. Croix Wild River 8-foot Kokanee Casting Rod, with 8-pound XXX Izorline as my mainline spooled onto a small levelwind reel. To fish the surface

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water, it is hard to beat slowly trolling a Yakima Bait F-4 FlatFish in frog pattern. This little diving plug that stays only a few inches to a couple of feet below the surface has been one of my most productive early-season trout lures. Trolling small lures such as a 1/8-ounce Yakima Bait Rooster Tail or a Promise Keeper by Mack’s Lure seems to always catch fish. For those who like to use PowerBait off of the bottom of the lake, it seems a long leader can make a big difference. With weeds growing as well as fish cruising and looking for food, the longer leader gets the bait up away from the muddy bottom. Fly fishing is a lot of fun and very productive in the springtime. Since the lakes are full of trout this is a great time to learn the style. Running a slow-sinking line on a 4-weight fly rod and stripping in a Carey Special, Woolly Bugger or Hare’s Ear nymph will catch recently planted trout, as well as carryover fish that have been eating aquatic bugs over the long winter. Those without a boat can venture to the local lake and use a

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COLUMN float tube and fly fish away from the shoreline and out of casting distance from those who are plunking bait.

AS FOR WHERE to head on opening weekend or even for several weeks after, when the fishing is still great and less crowded, look to a few of the more popular South Sound lakes that receive hefty plants. Silver Lake just outside the small town of Eatonville is a popular opening day water. It receives large plants and once the weather warms up, bass fishing can be good here as well. The lake tends to have a lot of leftover trout from previous plantings, so a mixed bag of frying pan-sized rainbows along with a few larger ones can be expected. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a public access area with a launch, but bank fishing opportunities are limited. Silver is also close to Tanwax and Clear Lakes, both of which have good trout fisheries but limited bank access as well. In fact, Clear has virtually no bank access other than the boat ramp itself. Also of note, the lake’s kokanee recently seem to have become nearly nonexistent, though they once powered a premier fishery. Heading towards Seabeck in Kitsap County is Wildcat Lake. This 108-acre gem

Stocker trout are suckers for just about everything in the tackle box, and then some – Hatchery Pellet Fly, anyone? – but among the best lures are Rooster Tails and small FlatFish. Other great options include PowerBait, Wedding Rings, Dick Nites, Thomas Buoyants and more. (JASON BROOKS, BOTH) gets a hefty plant just before the opener and another in early May, making it a great place to go once the crowds have left. WDFW has a boat launch and parking area, and there’s also a county park with public shoreline access and a small dock for fishing. This is a good place to go with the family; if the kids get bored, they can head to the playground or get some energy out at the 11-acre park while doing some fishing. Summit Lake is one that is always on the “can we go?” list. The past few years it has been plagued with an algae bloom that kept it closed or reduced fishing opportunities. But that also means the previous fish plants are carryovers, and it could be one of the best lakes to catch that monster trout, as long as it stays open. The lake offers a good kokanee fishery as well. With its public boat launch, Summit sits in the hills of the Capitol State Forest just west of Olympia and is a beautiful place to enjoy an afternoon of angling. The surrounding

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shoreline is mostly private, making this a boater’s lake. A few years ago the lake received a huge plant, over 38,000 fish, and then was closed to fishing. Last year it received around 3,000, with more fish slated to be planted this year as well. As long as there aren’t any blue-green algae issues, which lead to no-water-contact orders from the county, this is probably one of the best South Sound lakes for opening weekend and well into summer. Several other lakes receive good trout plants for the opener, so be sure to do your homework, then get out and look around before the season opens. Take a drive and scout out the launches and shoreline access so that when opening morning arrives, you are ready to go. Get the boat working and up to standard, the rods rigged, tackle boxes organized. Opening day of trout fishing is one of the best ways to get the family outdoors and experience some great fishing, not to mention make great memories. NS

TAHUYA TROUT For the South Sound angler who might be looking for some seclusion and good trout fishing, head to the 23,000-acre Tahuya State Forest in northeast Mason County near Belfair. The area has several small undeveloped lakes that are frequently stocked by WDFW. These hike- or walk-in lakes and ponds can offer some decent fishing, but mostly solitude. If you want to find your own “secret” spot, use the Fish Washington! tab at wdfw.wa.gov and the map feature will show you some of these lakes. For a starting point look at Howell Lake, which has a gated road, making it an easy walk. At just over 9 acres this little lake receives yearly plants of smaller rainbows. Another lake is Wood, which is surrounded by forest and provides solitude and a way to get back to nature not too far from the city. To fish any of the lakes and ponds in the Tahuya State Forest you will need a Discover Pass, as the WDFW pass is only good for agency access sites and this land is managed by the Department of Natural Resources. –JB

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COLUMN

Hello, Yellow: Discovering Tasty, Tasty Perch A

s the turbines churn a few hundred yards away, the line at CHEF IN THE WILD the end of my pole By Randy King begins to dance ever so slightly. I’m at an improved park alongside the tailrace of the Snake River’s C.J. Strike Reservoir, waters well known for

their quality fishing. I’ve cast my line into the “seam” that forms below the dam where the current and the slack water meet. This area holds a lot of fish, all of them waiting for food that’s been stunned or killed by the turbines upstream to pass by. Jigs, bait, spinners and spoons all work quite well here. A few more dips and ducks later I set my hook. A small fight ensues and I haul in an 11-inch perch. It’s my tenth of the morning.

Next to me are two of my boys – Cameron and Jordan – and they too are hauling in fish. It is starting to get silly, the number we are catching. But we won’t call it good just yet, as a good perch dinner requires a lot to be caught. As widely distributed as they are in the Northwest, perch are not native to the West Coast. The U.S. Fish Commission brought them west from the species’ home Whether you’re fishing below dams, on big metro waters or outback lakes, or through the ice, yellow perch are abundant throughout the Northwest, not to mention tasty. (SEAN CLUFF)

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COLUMN be used, but I have a total white guy heat index with my food, so I stick with low-heat peppers. A few Thai red chilies would knock the socks off the dish if you are into heat. Yellow Perch in Red Curry with Rice 1 cup jasmine rice 2 cups water 1 sweet potato, medium sized 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 jalapeño, sliced into coins ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes 1 thumb-sized hunk of ginger, peeled and cut into strips 1 can coconut milk 1/3 cup water 3 tablespoons red curry paste 10-12 yellow perch fillets (hand-sized fish, skin removed; I use a few heads for extra flavor) Salt and pepper Cilantro, Thai basil and green onion, all sliced thinly

Yellow perch in red curry with rice. (RANDY KING)

SPICE UP YOUR FISH FRY

mall panfish are a staple of cuisines around the world. They are fried and grilled and filleted and stewed and pickled. One method that is underrated but super flavorful is a classic fish curry dish. Variations exist from Fiji style to Indian style curries. I have landed on a Thai style, mostly because the paste is readily available in my local grocery store. This is a quick, two-pan dish, taking only as long as the rice needs to cook. Curry is often thought of as some exotic thing, but the base for most variations is the same – garlic, shallots, galangal (Thai ginger), shrimp paste, kaffir lime rind, coriander root, cumin seeds, lemongrass, and peppercorns. A few things separate the curries from

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each other. Basically, for green curry, green chilies are used. For red curry, red chilies are added. For yellow curry, curry powder (which contains a high amount of turmeric) is used. Any of the “three” curries could be substituted here. If you want to go wholly authentic, go ahead and make your own paste. I have found, however, that some store-bought options provide a passable flavor when other items are added. Basically, store-bought curries are a good base to build upon, much like most manufactured food products. The dish is then complemented with fresh items that bring a brighter flavor forward, specifically the fresh ginger and jalapeños. A hotter chili or pepper could

Bring rice and water to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover pan with lid and let cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. (Do not stir – long grain rice like jasmine is meant to be fluffy, not sticky. If you stir, you will release starches into the water and that will cause the rice to become sticky.) While the rice is cooking microwave a sweet potato for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool for 2 minutes and chop into ½-inch squares. In a large nonstick pan add the sesame oil. Heat on medium while microwaving the sweet potato. When the pan is hot add the jalapeño, chili flakes and ginger. Sautee for one minute, stir frequently. Add the coconut milk, water and curry paste. Stir the paste into the coconut milk. Bring to a simmer – add the fish fillets, one at a time, to the curry. Then add the cooked sweet potato. Cover pan and cook on a simmer for three to five minutes. Taste the curry and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Add a handful of cilantro, Thai basil and green onion to the mix. Use quite a bit – it tastes good. Serve the curry over rice. For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK

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Northwest Sportsman 125

COLUMN waters in the upper Mississippi River watershed and central and northern Atlantic states to provide forage fish for bass, walleye and trout. Basically, perch were expected to be, like they say in the Lion King, “food for other animals.” Luckily, yellow perch have a few other things going for them – abundance and flavor. They grow fast and are often very easy to catch. The fish take just about everything too. I have caught them on small jigs, spoons, spinners, worms, shrimp, clams, eggs and crickets. Basically, they’re the bluegill of the river in Idaho. The flavor of perch is phenomenal as well. White, firm and flaky, they are like a little halibut. Honestly, they make other warmwater species taste like mush. The crappie, which is known for being a fine eater, is nothing compared to the perch.

IT’S A SAD admission, then, that I have only just recently begun to target

126 Northwest Sportsman

The species can be caught on a wide range of gear, including this package put together by Idaho angler Sean Cluff. (SEAN CLUFF)

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perch with regularity. Most that I’ve caught have been while trying to catch something else. I am very late to this game. In Idaho a thriving cottage industry exists in mountain towns north of Boise around yellow perch. When the water turns hard in the winter, ice fishermen come out in full force. The new world-record ice fishing yellow perch was caught through the ice on Cascade Lake. A 12-year-old named Tia caught a monster that was 15.5 inches long, 12.75 inches in girth and weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces! (Oh, and she had missed the state-record mark the week before by four-hundredths of a pound.) Derbies are even set up for catching the lake’s often lunker-sized yellowbellies. Sean Cluff, a barbecue catering company owner and avid outdoorsman, is a frequent hardwater perch fisherman. He catches and posts so many to social media that I had to ask him what his favorite way to enjoy his catch is. “I like them blackened Cajun style. That is my favorite. And good ol’ fish and chips, like legit fish and chips, pub style,” Cluff said via text message. “This past year we saw people from all over the nation at Lake Cascade. It’s just an amazing fishery. We even saw a group from Alberta, Canada, fishing.” Perch fishing closer to the Pacific can also be off the hook, pun intended. Lake Washington is a great location, especially in the “off” seasons before salmon arrive and after deer hunting. Portland has perch right in the Willamette where it courses through town. Idaho, Oregon and Washington fishery managers maintain webpages or PDFs about where to go and catch the species. Basically, it turns out the entire Northwest has options and opportunity for perch fishing year-round.

MY LINE BEGINS to tighten again, the gentle tug of a winter fish. I wait, wanting to make sure it likes what I have on my line. Another tug and I set my hook. This perch feels bigger than the others, and the fight lasts longer, but not too long. Soon the fish is on shore and my stringer is near to bursting. Time to go home and fillet fish. Time to eat. Next weekend my family and I will go forth and get tight lines again. You should too. NS 128 Northwest Sportsman

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Explore The Blues For Edible Fungi Late spring an excellent time to hunt down tasty morel, coral and bolete mushrooms. By Dennis Dauble

“

hy didn’t you come get me?” my wife Nancy asked when she spotted me on my hands and knees by a campsite near the Umatilla River. “I’ve been walking around with an empty bag for the last half hour.” “I would have yelled but I didn’t want anyone to know we were here,” I replied. “It’s amazing. There are morels everywhere. Even under the old picnic table.” That was the year we hit the bonanza, bagging over 200 morels in three visits to a patch of ground no more than 30 yards in diameter. Our good luck lasted two more springs before the “magic patch” vanished. It only goes to show that finding the elusive morel is often best explained as serendipity. I didn’t completely blunder upon the magic patch. Half a dozen morels had emerged from forest duff in our cabin’s driveway in early May. Soon afterwards, a neighbor reported, “The Indian is picking them further

Mid- to late spring is an ideal time to head into the Blue Mountains in search of a wide variety of edible and tasty mushrooms. One of author Dennis Dauble’s trips into the range that sprawls across Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington (above) yielded (below, left to right) a small coral in prime condition, two large morels, and, behind them, a pile of spring boletes. (ANDY WALGAMOTT; DENNIS DAUBLE)

down the road.” These observations set off a bad case of mushroom fever, eventually leading to the abandoned campsite.

Mushroom hunting is not a recent sport. Native American tribes foraged for fungi in the Blue Mountains for food and medicine. The Sahaptinnwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

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HUNTING speaking peoples had general terms for both edible and poisonous species. One preferred species, the oyster mushroom, was harvested in the fall after the first rains. Interestingly, journal passages from several notable early 19th century explorers, including Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, David Thompson, David Douglas, John Fremont, and Charles Wilkes make no mention of mushrooms from the region. Evidently, they had access to plenty of roots, game, and fish when they roamed through the Blue Mountains in late spring. While mushroom hunting might be considered a solitary sport, don’t expect to be alone in the woods. Pickers reportedly harvested one million pounds of mushrooms from the Blue Mountains of Oregon in 1993. The majority of today’s commercial harvest is morels, and to a lesser extent, the boletes. The focus of this article is on the three mushroom species I know best. My goal is to introduce you to a springtime sport that provides me with as much pleasure as fishing for trout and salmon, when a good day is enjoying nature and a great day is bringing home something for dinner.

Sulfur lupine and Indian paintbrush in full bloom signal that springtime mushrooms are popping out of the ground somewhere nearby. Along with these floral cues, burns and other disturbed areas are often good places to look. Taking careful note of soil type and plant life growing in association with mushrooms should help your future hunts become ever more productive. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

THE ELUSIVE MOREL In certain years, when soil moisture and temperature coincide in ways I may never understand, morels (Morchella spp.) burst upon the forest floor. Some mycologists say that morels begin to show when soil temperature exceeds 50 Fahrenheit.

Cut the stem of morels above ground level to reduce the amount of dirt and debris in your harvest. (DENNIS DAUBLE) 138 Northwest Sportsman

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Others tell you to wait for an extended period of warm weather following springtime rains. For me, it’s when lupine and balsamroot bloom. The peak season is generally early May to mid-June, with mushrooms at higher elevations showing up later. Searching for morels is much like fishing for steelhead, picking huckleberries, or hunting for agates. It’s a much easier task when someone shows you where to go and how to do it. And, similar to most huntergathering activities, you don’t have a clue until you experience a find. Indeed, repeated success in the field is required before you begin to see the predictable associations between the occurrence of mushrooms and their environmental setting or habitat. The morels near our family cabin occur at the 2,000-foot elevation mark and are considered to be “white” or “blonde” morels. My low-elevation searches focus on black-soil bottom areas near streamside communities of cottonwood, buckbrush and snowberry. Despite spending hours and hours of searching stream banks and forested slopes, I’ve yet

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HUNTING Ken Gano shows off a prize coral mushroom, big enough for two meals. Always be sure that what you are harvesting is edible. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

fruiting of saphrophytic species – those that consume dead or dying organisms – are triggered by the flush of carbohydrates made available when trees die. Another reason for hunting fire-scarred ridges is that morels are more visible when low-lying vegetation has been removed, thanks to the backdrop of blackened soil. No different than any hunting or fishing expedition, careful homework will increase your odds of a successful trip. One source for recent burn areas, the “Burn Morel” website, sells e-books with maps indicating burn perimeters, elevation, and satellite view for several western states (see modern-forager .com). The Oregon Department of Forestry also provides information on wildfire activity in Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington. Several large fires occurred in the Umatilla National Forest in 2018. Avid mushroom hunters are likely to descend upon these areas this spring.

THE REWARDING CORAL

to find more than two dozen morels each year since our magic patch disappeared, though I keep looking. It wasn’t until another cabin neighbor reported finding mushrooms “two miles from the top of the ridge and off to the right” that I expanded my search zone to more lucrative high-elevation forests. Ridge-top morels have a dark brown cap and are often referred to as “black” morels. Stands of old-growth fir with huckleberry, native orchids, and wild strawberry undergrowth are helpful clues, as are downed trees and rotten logs. Slope and aspect appear variable. I’ve found morels on steep west-facing as well as low-gradient east-facing slopes. The important thing is to widen your search area in the immediate 140 Northwest Sportsman

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vicinity after you find one. Don’t be afraid to get down on your hands and knees and peer under bushes and forest debris. Move slowly, look around, and search for something different than a random pinecone on the forest floor. Many mushrooms form a symbiotic relationship with host trees. Being able to identify coniferous and decidious species and surrounding vegetation will increase your odds of having a successful hunt. The relationship between fire and subsequent abundant fruiting of morels is widely documented. In some cases, production may last for as much as two to three years following the burn. According to C.G. Parks and C.L. Schmitt, authors of a 1997 Forest Service paper entitled “Wild Edible Mushrooms of the Blue Mountains,”

Coral mushrooms (Ramaria spp.) are often confused with cauliflower mushrooms (Sparassus radicata) because they appear similar at first glance. Corals have been described as looking like “a pile of noodles.” They are difficult to identify to species because they exhibit a wide range of colors. Some species are considered mildly poisonous. In the Blues, corals are often found in similar habitat and at the same time of year as morels. Their large size and cream-colored branches make them easy to spot. I find corals along ridge tops in thick forest duff, typically near rotten logs beneath an overstory of old-growth fir. Individual fruiting bodies approach the size of a head of cabbage and often occur in groups of two or more. One coral may be good for several meals. Nancy found her first coral at the base of a large standing dead fir tree. “Something called to me, so I went over there,” she explained. Whether it was a forest spirit or

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HUNTING the fact latent habitat association skills pointed the way – who cares? – unfortunately, Nancy later tripped on a branch and sent her entire harvest flying across the forest floor. I mention this only to reinforce the importance of wearing adequate footwear, paying attention to where you walk, and carrying a strong bag to keep your mushrooms secure and dry.

THE HIGHLY REGARDED BOLETE

Nancy Dauble isn’t saying whether she is thrilled or overwhelmed with the day’s harvest. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

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King boletes, Boletus edulis, are favored by avid “shroomers” because of their firm flesh and nutty taste. Known as “porcinis” by Italians, boletes exhibit a bald cap with a netlike design known as reticulation below the cap. It’s nigh near impossible to ignore their robust parasol shape when you have trekked the woods for hours and your canvas bag is empty. The “spring king” from the Blues has a massive stem and a distinctive reddish brown cap that spreads up to a foot wide. Another key feature is the underside to their cap consists of sponge-like pores (not gills). I don’t search for boletes as much as they find me.

OTHER FOREST FUNGI YOU MAY FIND According to the U.S. Forest Service, at least 23 mushroom species in the Blues have commercial value. The bad news for Westside inhabitants of Oregon and Washington is that you will not find chanterelles here. One source of confusion relates to the presence of the false morel. Common names include calf’s brains, elephant ears, and “snowbank brains” (socalled because they appear in forested areas where snow has recently melted). The stem of true morels is completely fused with the cap and hollow, while false morels have a wavy cap that hangs off the stem. Although false morels are considered edible if properly prepared, the genus Gyromitra has toxic properties and should be avoided. If hunting Northwest mushrooms has your interest, I highly recommend All That Rain Promises and More by

Since 1929

David Arora. This entertaining field guide has color pictures and a handy identification key that can be carried in the woods. Serious mushroom hunters will also be interested in his more complete volume, Mushrooms Demystified. Several informative websites showcase edible Pacific Northwest mushrooms, including northernbushcraft.com, alpental.com/ psms, and mushroaming.com. The latter website offers field guides, tours, and details on public presentations.

PICKER BEWARE There’s a Croatian proverb that goes something like, “All mushrooms are edible, but some only once.” One concern for novice pickers is poisonous look-alikes. For example, many of the deadly Aminita species look similar to the common Agaricus found in grocery stores. Some edible mushrooms produce irritable bowel or laxative effects, especially if eaten uncooked or in excess. Other species are toxic when taken in combination with alcohol. For these reasons, do not eat any mushroom that you are not absolutely certain of. As an aside, the milk thistle herb, widely used in Europe for treatment of mushroom poisoning, is approved only for conditional use in the U.S. Conventional wisdom cautions to consume small amounts (e.g., a tablespoon) of any mushroom that is new to you and that you wait 24 hours when testing your resistance. Some people have allergic reactions even to edible species. It’s also true that everyone’s taste buds are different. For example, my friend Ted loves shaggy manes that he gathers each fall from the edge of a local golf course. I tried them once, suffered mild abdominal discomfort, and crossed them off my list (along with spring kings and a few others that produced a similar reaction). As for friends who are squeamish about eating Paleolithic cuisine gathered from contemporary forests, let them opt out. Their hesitation leaves more

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HUNTING yourself not to harvest them next time around. Senescent fruiting bodies of mushrooms should be left in the forest as an investment in the future. Corals can be packed in ziplock bags and kept in the freezer for up to six months with little loss of flavor. Vacuum-packing them is challenging because of their moisture content. Boletes are cleaned and prepared fresh as accompaniment to a meal, but also eaten in soups, pasta, or risotto after being dried and reconstituted. It’s best to slice and dry larger ones because the flesh tends not to be firm. King boletes are one of a few wild mushrooms that are sold pickled.

MORE ’SHROOMING ADVICE

A lucky day is when you find a morel big enough to cover the top of a cheeseburger, like this quartered one Dauble discovered. Your find can be enjoyed immediately or dried and vacuum packed for later. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

mushrooms for you! Unfortunately for all you Jimi Hendrix fans, those so-called “magic” mushrooms – the ones that contain the psychoactive ingredient psilocybin – are not common to the Blue Mountains. If getting high on wild fungi is your goal, you’ll have better luck foraging in cow pastures west of the Cascades.

PREPARATION AND STORAGE Mushrooms gathered from the wild don’t look anything like those you find at Safeway. Bits of dirt, bugs, and debris should be carefully removed before eating. Older mushrooms are likely to have worms. How much to trim versus how much to save often comes into play. Nancy gets stuck cleaning our mushrooms. Blame it on her inner attention to detail. My job is to listen to her complaints and prepare the harvest for storage. The first step involves trimming old and insect144 Northwest Sportsman

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damaged tissue. Morels are split in half longitudinally with a sharp knife and lightly brushed clean. Harvest not eaten fresh is sealed in ziplock bags or vacuum-packed and frozen for later use. If I am lucky enough to come home with a bagful, I’ll string them on sewing thread like a Christmas tree garland to dry before vacuum packing. Dried morels can be stored for several years. Processing corals is more complicated because of the amount of forest debris that typically comes along with their capture. We float corals in a basin of cold water to remove surface dirt and fir needles. Individual strands, or “branches,” are then pulled apart, further cleaned to Nancy’s satisfaction, and placed on a cloth towel to air dry. Wormy tissue should be trimmed from the base unless extra protein is your goal. Take careful note of older corals (i.e., those with sprawling branches, dried, and/or discolored) and promise

Mushroom hunters can forage for free on Forest Service land for personal use. Permits must be purchased if you plan to harvest, possess, or transport more than five gallons of any kind of mushroom in Oregon. Harvesting mushrooms on private land without permission is considered poaching. A good way to get started is via a local mycology or mushroom club. Tromp the woods with a guided group until you know what you are doing, then find a trusted friend with a sense of adventure and an eye for detail. Much like any hunter-gatherer activity, pattern recognition, habitat association, persistence, and luck all come into play. I admit to not being a big fan of mushroom soup. However, there is no finer accompaniment to a T-bone steak grilled medium rare than wild morels or corals fried in butter. Spend a day or two roaming the woods this spring and you might enjoy some of the same. Worst case is you’ll learn something about forest fungi. NS Editor’s note: Dennis Dauble is the author of the award-winning natural history guidebook, Fishes of the Columbia Basin, in addition to three short story collections about the fishing experience. See more of his writing at DennisDaubleBooks.com.

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HUNTING

Work The Turkey Rut Here’s how to successfully hunt the Northwest’s long spring gobbler season. By Troy Rodakowski

very March I start hearing gobbles and remember that it’s almost time to ready the camo, turkey gun and calls and prepare for an exciting spring that is soon to come. Just the other day I was taking a walk and saw a couple toms showing off for a few hens even as snowflakes piled up on my hat. Yup, won’t be long now, I thought. It also got me thinking. Most folks don’t take into account the changes turkey go through during the season, which stretches from early April’s youth hunts, through the opener on the 15th all the way to the end of May. Birds are very similar to deer and elk as they have pre-rut, rut, late rut and post-rut tendencies.

EARLY SEASON This is a great time to catch love-crazy toms strutting and chasing hens. Most gobblers are slightly more aggressive and very receptive to calls during this time of year. Typically, here in the Northwest you can observe this activity from February to mid-March before the weather warms. Very little breeding occurs during this time period. The weather is usually too cold and hens aren’t as receptive as the gobblers would like. Plus, any broods that hatch from early breeding have a drastically higher chance of mortality. Unfortunately, here in Washington, Oregon and Idaho we aren’t able to hunt turkeys this early in the season. However, California does have some early seasons available.

If you don’t bag a bird in April, don’t worry. The season is long and there are plenty out there, though you will need to tweak your tactics. Author Troy Rodakowski shows off a mature gobbler taken in May during a recent season. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

MIDSEASON From early to late April, toms are running around breeding as many hens as possible. In fact you will likely see some hens with poults later during this period. Most toms are eagerly pursuing receptive hens and will be quite receptive to calling and good decoy set-ups. Hens too become very aggressive toward

calling and hunters can oftentimes lure a big mature gobbler by calling at the ladies. Large breeding groups with two to three gobblers, several hens and a handful of jakes can often be seen. These groups can be harder to hunt because of the number of eyes available for spotting danger. A great nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2019

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HUNTING

Feathers are a great sign that turkeys are nearby. Birds can lose them due to fighting or while preening near roost sites. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

of Elkton. “This is one of the biggest mistakes first-time hunters make.” I have also found that 2-year-old gobblers (satellite birds) will be highly aggressive towards decoys and hen yelps. These birds typically are chased away from flocks by mature toms or

will only trail the big boys and hens. The “pecking” order is in full force during this time of year. Of course, birds are more wary than they were on opening day, so keep in mind that you may need to be a little stealthier and very careful

WASHINGTON GOBBLER PROSPECTS

which can be found by going to wdfw. wa.gov/hunting/prospects. Speaking of bios’ hunting prospects, Michael Atamian’s prognosis for District 2 – Spokane, Lincoln and Whitman Counties – has some interesting details. Last fall he reported turkeys were doing “very well” in the Mt. Spokane, Mica Peak, Cheney and Roosevelt game units, which produced 1,132, 232, 410 and 410 birds in 2017 (spring and fall seasons) and that they’re expanding in Harrington, Steptoe and Almota, though these largely open units yielded less than 120 all together. “Qualitatively, the number of turkeys seen during other survey efforts – moose, deer and elk flights – would indicate the turkey population is healthy in District 2, as would the number of damage complaints our wildlife conflict staff have received,” noted Atamian last month. “This late winter weather will delay the hens nesting a bit and so decrease their interest in males, which will dampen the strutting a bit, but once the temperatures

tactic is to pick out a frequently used trail or small logging road and set up a blind, a lone hen decoy and wait, calling lightly every so often. “Remember not to overcall birds,” tips hunting and fishing guide Jody Smith (jodysmithguideservice.com)

Last issue Troy Rodakowski wrote up Oregon’s spring turkey forecast, which was looking good, though late winter weather and its subsequent larger-thanaverage snowpack – primarily in the eastern mountains – may impact that to a degree. That’s less so on the north side of the Columbia, where if 2019 is anything like recent gobbler hunts, somewhere around seven out of every 10 toms will be killed in Northeast Washington. According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Units 101 through 136 provided 69 percent of 2017’s statewide harvest, 3,331 birds, the third most for this region since 2008. Even though winter struck late and stuck around into March, Annemarie Prince, WDFW’s District 1 wildlife biologist, doesn’t think it will impact turkey numbers. “The fields in the Colville valley are already starting to melt out and there are spots under trees that never had much 148 Northwest Sportsman

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snow,” she said in early March. “I’d say harvest should be similar to last year’s. I can’t see why it would be up or down significantly.” Hunters typically focus on farms in the Colville, Pend Oreille and other valleys’ floors, as well as the wooded slopes above them, where typically private timberlands and public ground can be found. “If the snow sticks around, the birds might stay bunched up a little longer in areas without snow,” says Prince. “For the opener, hunters could think about scouting early and contacting private landowners to gain hunting access. I don’t recommend showing up on opening day all decked out in camo and requesting permission. Like in year’s past, I think the map in our hunting prospects showing good areas for turkeys on public lands is helpful and still a good map.” That’s a reference to a marked-up page in her fall 2018 hunting forecast document,

HUNTING when making moves on flocks or repositioning.

LATE SEASON It’s going to sound strange but I prefer hunting the late season over other times for a few reasons. First, there are fewer hunters in the woods. Second, the weather is a bit more cooperative for both the birds and hunters. Lastly, it’s even more challenging to bag a late-season gobbler. I find myself concentrating on birds that I can pattern well. Hunting roost sites in the afternoons is one of my favorite tactics during this time of year. Most of the birds I have harvested in May have been in the afternoon near roost sites or birds heading toward their bed, per se. I like to watch from distances and observe roost sites, then sneak in during the midafternoon and wait while sporadically calling into the early evening without a decoy.

Be on alert when sitting after calling as mature gobblers will oftentimes approach silently. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

turn and snow starts to melt off, it will pick up quick,” he forecasted. Even as his district contributes well to the region’s overall highest-in-the-state take, the knock is the decided lack of public land. “As for almost all hunting in District 2 some of the best spots are on private ground,” Atamian says, “so I would highly recommend hunters secure private land access if they want to increase their odds.” There are very scattered patches of state land, and the big paper company’s properties might be another option. Atamian encourages turkey hunters to also look into fall opportunties. To the south, the Blue Mountains harvest has been down from high marks earlier this decade, likely due to increased fall hunts meant to lower damage complaints. In spring 2017, 499 turkeys were taken here, representing 10 percent of the statewide kill. Assistant wildlife bio Mark Vekasy reported big flocks in late winter, likely due to snows, but with no real winterkill issues to report he expected an average season. “It seems like turkeys are everywhere we would expect them to be – and lots of 150 Northwest Sportsman

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places we don’t want them – so I can’t point to any particular areas,” he says. That said, there are some public lands. “Some out-of-the-way spots that often don’t get as much pressure are on the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area up beyond the road on Joseph Creek, and the George Creek unit of the Asotin Creek WA. The McDonald Bridge and Swegle Units of the Wooten WA on the Walla Walla River are good ones for disabled hunters to access,” Vekasy tips. “If you’ve got a boat, it would be fun to access some of the Army Corps of Engineers hunt management units along the Snake River,” he adds. “We saw good numbers of turkeys on the breaks of the Snake River during our mule deer surveys, and I don’t think those turkeys get much pressure at all.” Vekasy does advise hunters to get ahold of good maps showing HMU boundaries. Outside of one off-the-charts year, Klickitat County has annually kicked out 370 to 514 birds each spring over the last 10 years, and you can expect that to continue. “The spring 2018 season looks like it was on par with the four previous seasons, which have been very stable at between

400 to 500 birds harvested and a success rate between 25 to 35 percent,” says WDFW’s Stefanie Bergh. “I expect the same this year.” While cool, damp weather can impact spring production, she points out that last year was hot and dry, leading her to suspect a good hatch in 2018, which could mean more birds down the road. The Klickitat Wildlife Area may be most popular, but there are scattered Western Pacific Timber parcels west of Highway 97. “If hunters can secure access to private lands, especially at lower elevations, their chances of encountering turkeys will be good. We also have a spot for disabled turkey hunters that is part of our Private Lands Access Program,” adds Bergh, pointing to WDFW’s 40-acre Lovers Lane parcel just east of the town of Klickitat. To the north, state managers report that East Cascades flocks are probably at the region’s carrying capacity, in terms of winter severity, available habitat and resident tolerance, though the agency’s latest game report does note an increase in Chelan County in recent years that might be worth checking out.–NWS

Why keep at it? Rodakowski says he’s seen turkey poults as late as August, which means birds were still in breeding in May, meaning it ain’t over till it’s over if you’re looking for a spring tom. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

Yet another great reason to hunt for late-season gobblers is that they are very interested in finding the last few hens available to breed. Every summer I’m amazed how many young poults I see in late August. I find myself doing the math to try and figure out the incubation period only to come to the conclusion they were likely conceived in May or even June. Toms can be tough to coax into range, so making your own breaks is often times necessary in order to find success. Turkeys oftentimes do not like to cross creeks or thick obstacles, such as logs or dense brush. Consider having one hunter cross the water or blockage while the other calls on the other side. I have found birds will walk these barriers much like a fence line in search of that lonely hen. Mature birds will also gravitate to old burn sites to scratch for seed, look for insects and browse on freshly sprouted vegetation. There were a total of 841 fires throughout Oregon last year, scorching 430,567 acres. Those that overlapped turkey range will be prime for some good hunting during the next several years. 152 Northwest Sportsman

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Once fields, pastures and small meadows have dried from the warm wind and sun turkeys will be easier to coax across them late in the day. Frequently birds will venture into locations where grasses and other forages have grown during the warm spring weather. These areas will hold a variety of insects such as caterpillars, flies, beetles, slugs, snails and many others that turkeys can’t resist. Birds will not venture too far from the security of the woods and the umbrella canopies of cool afternoon shade.

STICK TO IT THROUGH SEASON It’s never too late to bag your bird, as I have taken turkeys throughout the spring, and on several occasions on the last day. Yes, it’s warm and seems as if the turkey rut has passed, but oftentimes the final month provides some of the best hunting. Gobblers will be wading their way through the tall grass and underbrush in search of the last receptive hens. Seasons in both Washington and Oregon run through May 31, so plan to make the most of your 2019 spring season, from start this month to finish next month. NS

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COLUMN

Gun Dog Toys Vs. Tools: Know The Difference

Distinguishing between toys and training tools clearly communicates what you expect of your dog. Bumpers are training tools, not toys. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

uppies love playing with toys and having fun. Puppies also need to learn, and training tools help to achieve this. In order to get the GUN DOGGIN’ 101 most efficient learning By Scott Haugen out of your pup, it’s necessary to distinguish between toys and training tools. Personally, I don’t like mixing my dogs’ toys and training tools. I love frisbees to teach a dog how to mark objects moving through the sky. I also like using frisbees to play with dogs. The frisbees I use for training are not the same ones I use for play time. The frisbees I use for playing are hard plastic, thrown short range through the air so the dog can run and catch them, and they can also be rolled on the ground, which the dogs love chasing. These play

frisbees are fun for the dog, and good for conditioning. To a degree, these toys also reinforce my communication with the dogs. But when I break out the training frisbees, my dogs know it’s work time. This is because I’ve differentiated between toys and tools since they were pups. My training frisbee is a heavy Rubber Throw Disk made by Browning. The dogs know when the work frisbees come out, they have to pay attention, focus, and quickly obey my commands. The way the dogs hold their ears and tail – even their body language – changes the instant I put down a toy frisbee and grab one for training.

WITH BUMPER TRAINING, I don’t use bumpers as toys; every bumper I own is a training tool. Bumpers are never laying around the house or in the yard where dogs may grab and chew on. When a bumper comes out, the dogs know it’s

time to work. When your pup is young, introduce a variety of bumpers to them. Cloth bumpers are ideal until the pup loses its puppy teeth, then you can go with harder plastic and rubber bumpers, increasing the size as the pup grows. Even adult dogs like to play, and I use a variety of balls for this. Because both of our pudelpointers live inside the house, not outside in kennels, our family is consistent with what toys and tools come into the house. We have certain balls we use in specific parts of the house, and those balls never leave that area; we know it and the dogs know it. We have other balls we use outside, and that’s where they stay. Never play fetch with dogs on wood, vinyl or smooth tile floors, as it can lead to serious injury. If guests come over and want to play with the dogs, I give them balls or the toy frisbee, never a training tool.

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COLUMN AS FOR CHEW toys, we primarily give our dogs bones from wild game we take, namely deer and elk. Deer bones can be given whole, while big elk leg bones need to be crosscut. Cow bones – especially crosscut stew bones – can also be great chew toys, as they last a long time. I call them toys, but bones are also excellent for cleaning a dog’s teeth and gums. For the dogs, bones are a real treat, something they have fun devouring. Since I hunt for deer and elk antler sheds with my dogs, I never let them chew on antlers. I want my dogs to know antlers are not chew toys, rather something they are trained to find and immediately retrieve. I’m seeing a growing number of deer antlers for sale in sporting goods stores; if you’re going to teach your dog to shed hunt, don’t give them an antler or even a piece of antler to chew on, ever; I use them only for training. If you have a high-energy dog that likes to play, and no matter where you are it frantically seeks toys for you to throw, put those toys away. You don’t want the dog developing the nervous habit of finding a ball just for you throw it. The sooner you can curtail this type of behavior, the more relaxed your pup will be. Encouraging self-calming behaviors like chewing on a bone will help. Similarly, avoid getting into tug-ofwar matches with your dog. Never use a sock or rope to pull around, having the dog grab one end while you tug on the other. This fun game quickly turns into a game of dominance, one a dog won’t quit until it wins, and the older it gets, the more aggressive it will become. You, the trainer, are the one in command and control, not the dog. The more clearly you distinguish between toys and tools, the more obedient your pup will be. Toys and training tools are all about teaching a dog discipline and restraint, and the sooner you can get this message across to the pup, the better for the both of you. NS

If you intend to hunt for shed antlers with your dog, don’t let them chew on antlers when they are pups. Rather, use them as training tools. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 156 Northwest Sportsman

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Editor’s note: To see some of Scott Haugen’s puppy training video tips, check out visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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“Nothing builds your long-range confidence like consistently hitting a 1,000-yard target,” writes author Buzz Ramsey. “This makes distances of … 500 yards for a target the size of an elk seem at least possible.” The famed fisherman downed this Oregon bull in 2010 with a 550-yard shot with his .338 Remington Ultra Mag. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

Sight-in Now For Long-Range Success S

pring might be the best time of year to sharpen your shooting skills. Air temperatures are BUZZ similar to that of RAMSEY most fall hunts, meaning your rifle will likely shoot the same now as on opening day, and should

you discover something amiss with your rifle or scope, you have time to get it corrected well in advance of autumn. And if your goal is to extend your effective range out past 300 yards, figuring out how to get your rifle and/or ammunition to group at less than an inch at 100 yards is important. To make clean kills at long range will require you to shoot really tight groups at short range.

If you obtained a rifle scope for Christmas or plan to purchase one with your tax return, and especially if it’s one like a Leupold that may come with the ability to add a Custom Dial System (CDS) to it, now would be a good time to sight in your rifle and confirm the actual flight of your bullet as compared to that of a ballistics calculator. After all, it’s a lot easier to make long-distance shots by placing your cross-

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The responsibility of taking longrange shots at game “will require you to shoot really tight groups at short range,” Ramsey maintains. Here is a three-shot group fired from his .338 RUM at 100 yards. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

hairs on the target as opposed to holding the right amount above it, which is easy to misjudge. Having the ability to dial your scope turret by counting clicks/minutes (a minute of angle for shooters equates to four clicks) or having a custom dial with the yardage inscribed on the turret means you can dial long-distance yardage and hold the crosshair where you want your bullet to go.

SHOOTING LONG RANGE means different things to different people. For example, I know many hunters who consider long range to be any distance out past 500 yards. And although I downed one elk back in 2010 at 550 yards, by the above definition, I don’t consider myself a longrange-shooter. For me, any shot over 300 yards is long range. Making a clean kill at even 250 yards requires a fair amount of preseason practice, an accurate rifle, skillful trigger control, a solid rest, and having the absolute confidence you can make it. Still, I’d like to think I could make another clean kill at over 500 yards sometime in the future. This is why I practiced shooting my rifle out to 900 yards last spring. No, none of my 2018 hunts required shots anywhere near the 500-yard mark, as my longest oneshot kill was 257 range-finder yards. MY ONLY RIFLE currently set up with a 160 Northwest Sportsman

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custom dial is a .338 Remington Ultra Mag equipped with a Leupold VX-III 6.520 scope. The scope’s CDS dial allows me to turn the top turret to nearly any reasonable distance for hold-on shots, when peering through the crosshairs. To achieve the accuracy required for long-distance shooting – that is, an inch or less three-shot-group at 100 yards – I’ve refined my reloading for this rifle so it consistently produces tight groups. If you hand load like I do, you should be able to tune your loads to group within an inch. The key is to eliminate all variation in your ammo by making every component as consistent as possible. Some things to consider include having all cases weigh within a grain of each other. In addition, you will need to make sure all cases have equal case neck tension (which might mean turning the case necks to an equal thickness and/or annealing the case necks), having all previously fired brass trimmed to length, and although some don’t think it’s all that important (I do), weighing each and every powder charge. And while you can sort through once-fired brass to find those weighing within a grain, if you’re thinking of buying new, I’ve found Nosler brass to be the most consistent. In addition to the above, overall cartridge length has everything to do with accuracy. You see, steel barrels flex when fired

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and you want your bullet to kiss off the end of the barrel when this gyration is at a stable point in its flexing – a position called a node. Exactly when your bullet exits the barrel can be adjusted many different ways, with one being how deeply you seat the bullets. While you want your finished cartridge to fit the magazine, many rifles shoot the best when bullets are seated close to the rifling, say, within .010 inch. If this setting depth doesn’t produce tight groups, try shortening the overall length in .010-inch increments until you find a length that produces the smallest groups and then fine tune the overall cartridge length from there. For example, I was able to reduce group sizes for my .338 RUM from 2 to 3 inches to less than an inch by simply adjusting the seating depth of the bullet. If you shoot factory ammunition, you may need to try several different brands and/or bullet weight combinations in order to find one that will group well. Realize that Winchester, Remington, Federal, or other brands of ammo of the same caliber and bullet weight may all shoot differently in your rifle – some producing 2- to 3-inch, groups, while others could group at under an inch. As an example, I have a .338 Winchester that produced only 2- to 3-inch 100-yard groups with Federal Fusion ammo, but 3/4-inch groups with Remington Safari Grade factory loads. I discovered that seating depth was the big difference and applied the Safari Grade seating depth to my reloads, but could have just as easily kept shooting the Remington factory rounds.

IF YOUR SCOPE has accurate ¼-inch click adjustments, meaning one click of the turret will adjust your scope up or down in ¼-inch increments at 100-yard targets, you should be able to match up the flight of your bullet with a ballistics calculator. Keep in mind that not all rifle scopes are accurate in this way. In my experience, Leupold and other top brands like Vortex are. Ballistic calculators are available free on the internet; try the one Vortex offers at lrbc.vortexoptics.com/#! Most all ballistic calculators will allow you to enter the information about your cartridge and provide you with the num-

COLUMN ber of ¼-inch click adjustments to make dead-on hits out to 1,000 yards or more just by lining up your reticle with the target. As an example, for my .338 RUM to hit a 1,000-yard target, given my 210-grain bullet and 3,150-foot-per-second velocity, requires 109 clicks. To speed up the process, I’d recommend shooting at extreme range, say 1,000 yards. It just takes a lot less time to match your hits to the calculator at 1,000 yards and work your way down to confirm bullet flight, rather than trying to gradually increase the distance, which doesn’t really work. I did this for my Remington the very first time with the help of a friend who watched as I fired at a far-away target. As my spotter, he watched the dust fly from my hits and we adjusted the velocity on the computer program and corresponding number of ¼-inch click adjustments until I was hitting

the target with every shot. This procedure revealed the true velocity of my cartridge without the need for a chronograph.

YOU WILL LIKELY want to zero your rifle to hit a little high at 100 yards before beginning the aforementioned process. Doing this will allow you to determine the pointblank-range for your rifle. Here is an example: If you have a .3006 firing a 165-grain projectile at 2,800 fps and your bullet, depending on how well it flies (determined by its ballistic coefficient, BC), is sighted in to hit 1½ inches high at 100 yards, it will likely hit dead on at or near 200 yards, and only 5 inches low at 275 before dropping 9 inches at 300. So you can hold dead-on at pretty much everything out to 275 yards, which would be your point-blank range. It’s when you get much beyond 300 yards that your bullet

will likely begin to drop a lot. Once you’ve confirmed the flight of your bullet as compared to a calculator via actual shooting, it’s a lot easier and less confusing to order a custom dial for your rifle scope (presuming it’s dial compatible) as compared to having to count clicks and always remember where your dial is at compared to zero. I’m here to tell you, nothing builds your long-range confidence like consistently hitting a 1,000-yard target. This makes distances of 400 yards for a deer and 500 for a target the size of an elk seem at least possible. After all, a big part of actually hitting an animal in the kill zone at 300, 400, 500 yards is believing you can do it. NS Editor’s note: The author is a brand manager and part of the management team at Yakima Bait. Like Buzz on Facebook. Even as the author is prepared to fire at distant game, in reality the furthest shot he took during the 2018 season was 257 yards. He bagged this Oregon muley at 300 during the 2011 hunt. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

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COLUMN

The 5 Best Varmint Calibers Ever? W

ith spring and early s u m m e r, before grasses get too high and temperatures become uncomfortably hot, ON TARGET comes varmint By Dave Workman hunting opportunities from Eastern Washington and Oregon, through southern Idaho and east into Montana and the Dakotas, and wherever you can find dog towns and rockchucks. I’ve hunted prairie dogs in Wyoming and South Dakota, shot ground squirrels in Eastern Oregon and Idaho, and also conked a few ’chucks down near the Idaho-Nevada border. I’ve come to a conclusion that is almost certain to start arguments around campfires, gun ranges and loading benches: There are five cartridges that, when paired to good rifles, are the absolute best choices for putting the hurt on rodents of all varieties, and have proven themselves against coyotes as well.

NO. 1: THE .22-250 REMINGTON This warp-speed, flat-shooting cartridge is simply awesome. It began life as a wildcat and was a favorite of handloaders until Remington began offering commercial loads. The parent cartridge is the .2503000 Savage necked down to accept a .224-caliber bullet that can leave the muzzle at better than 4,400 feet per second, depending upon the bullet weight and propellant charge. That can cross 400 yards so fast that a fat prairie dog will already be doing dead summersaults in the air above its mound before the sound of the shot reaches where it used to be on the ground.

From prairie dogs to yellow-bellied marmots and more, there are a lot of targets for shooters out there in spring. Sheila Larsson bagged these ground squirrels near Ovando, Montana, a few springs back. (ONTARIO KNIFE CO. PHOTO CONTEST)

The specimens I’ve had a chance to fire over the years have been frighteningly accurate, and the common rifling twist is 1:14 inches. Out of a heavybarreled Remington, Browning, Ruger or Winchester with a good scope, the .22250 is a varmint killer extraordinaire. I’ve got a pal who bought an older Kimber chambered for this round a few months back, and he isn’t complaining.

Lighter bullets deliver higher velocities, but there are projectiles weighing up to 77 to 80 grains discussed in the Nosler loading manual, and with enough powder they can break the 3,100-fps mark.

NO. 2: THE .220 SWIFT They don’t call this thing “swift” for laughs. Introduced back in 1935 by Winchester, this baby rocks and can leave the muzzle at

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better than 4,000 fps with the right bullet/ powder combination. Check any loading manual and you will find enough options to keep you busy at a loading press for hours, if not days! The .220 Swift has a slightly larger case capacity than the .22-250 Rem., and it also likes the 1:14-inch rifling twist. I’ve seen some loading data using such popular propellants as Varget, Vihtavouri N150 or W760 recommended, along with one of my favorite powders, H4895. As with all other varmint calibers, I recommend boattail bullets, regardless of brand, because they tend to have a higher ballistic coefficient. Downrange, the .220 Swift can turn a prairie dog inside out or blow them to pieces, and against coyotes out to several hundred yards it has devastating results.

NO. 3: THE .222 REMINGTON AND .222 REMINGTON MAGNUM You really can’t talk about one without

KICK-EEZ® The Ruger No. 1, exemplified by this pair in stainless steel, has been chambered over the years in top varmint calibers including .22-250 Remington, .223 Remington, .220 Swift, and .204 Ruger. (DAVE WORKMAN)

mentioning the other. The magnum has a slightly longer case allowing for a heftier powder charge (1.70 inches and 1.85 inches, respectively), and they use the same bullet and same 1:14-inch rifling twist. I’ve fired a couple of different guns

chambered for the .222 Remington, but never had the opportunity to put a magnum through its paces. Both cartridges are flat shooters, and a comparison of loading data shows that one might gain 150 to 200 fps velocity from the magnum,

APRIL MARKS 148TH ANNUAL NRA MEETINGS & EXHIBITS The National Rifle Association will mark its 148th anniversary this month with their annual members’ meetings and exhibits in Indianapolis, April 26-28. The event is scheduled at the Indiana Convention Center, and upwards of 70,000 to 80,000 members are expected. According to NRA publicity, there will be “15 acres of guns and gear, exclusive seminars and the chance to rub shoulders with tens of thousands of other Second Amendment patriots.” It’s no secret the NRA has its hands full in the Northwest. Passage of gun control Initiative 1639 in Washington last November has led to all kinds of problems, not the least of which is the loss of Second Amendment rights for young adults in the 18- to 20-year-old age group. They can no longer legally purchase any kind of a semiautomatic rifle, even a .22-caliber Ruger 10/22 or Marlin Model 60, both of which now are classified as “semiautomatic assault rifles” by the sweeping definition included in the initiative language. Sheriffs in several Washington counties announced in January they would not enforce provisions of the initiative, which they consider unconstitutional. 168 Northwest Sportsman

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President Trump visited the NRA convention last year, and in 2017 as a White House candidate. (DAVE WORKMAN) The NRA joined with the Bellevuebased Second Amendment Foundation to file a federal lawsuit challenging I-1639 on Second and Fourteenth Amendment grounds, and as a violation of the Commerce Clause. Northwesterners headed to Indy will find more than 800 exhibitors occupying 650,000 square feet of space in the convention center. They can attend the annual members meeting on Saturday, hear top country music artists, attend a special concert featuring country superstar Alan Jackson, and participate in the annual Leadership Forum.

There will be seminars and workshops, and you can meet top names in the firearms industry. NRA was last in Indianapolis five years ago, and a lot has happened since then. The Second Amendment is under continued attack, and no doubt the media will be covering this event with a magnifying glass. For the past two years, President Donald Trump has visited the convention. At this writing, there was no word he might make it three in a row, but anything is possible with early campaigning by potential challengers already underway. –DW

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but at the end of the day, just how dead can you kill a rockchuck or ’yote? My introduction to the .222 Remington came during an impromptu gun safety lecture from a health/gym teacher back in junior high school (yes, a very long time ago!) and I recall the teacher saying that it was the lightest cartridge with which you could legally hunt deer at the time. I wasn’t too keen on that idea, having instead gotten hold of my uncle’s bolt-action Model 340 Savage chambered in .30-30, which seemed more practical. The “Triple Deuce” has one claim to fame. It’s the first rimless .22-caliber centerfire made commercially in the U.S. The .222 Remington has been around since 1950, but this old-timer has a lot of spunk. The .222 Remington Magnum came along eight years later, and it shows no signs of fading into the shadows.

NO. 4: THE .223 REMINGTON This isn’t exactly a surprise. After all, the

KICK-EEZ®

cartridge has become incredibly popular thanks to the rise of the AR-15, the leading rifle in America today. Despite the sorry fact that the AR-15 has been classified as a “semiautomatic assault rifle” by citizen initiative in Washington – evidently written by people who dislike firearms and really don’t know jack about them – the cartridge is also popular in bolt-action and single-shot rifles such as the Ruger No. 1. I’ve fired the .223 Remington in all three platforms and whatever was on the receiving end went “splat.” I’ve encountered guys who use the AR in winter for coyotes and during the spring and summer to lay siege to prairie dog towns all over eastern Montana. I think the full potential of the .223 Remington can be found at the loading bench, and I know one guy who spends most of the winter loading up empty brass for annual trips to the plains where he will burn up hundreds of rounds sending

Author Dave Workman found plenty to like about the .204 Ruger in this Ruger No. 1 Single Shot on a prairie dog hunt a few years ago in South Dakota. (DAVE WORKMAN)

rodents to the Great Beyond.

NO. 5: THE .204 RUGER I developed a great affection for this cartridge on a prairie dog hunt with some guys from Ruger several years ago. Using a stainless steel No. 1 single shot, I spent one leisurely morning blowing the hell out of fat dogs in a large bowl area where there must have been about 500 different mounds, all of them with a head or two popping out. In the aftermath, I suggested in print that the .204 Ruger would become the varmint cartridge of the 21st Century. Recoil is virtually nonexistent, and the ability to hit a target about the size of a soda can at better than 400 yards just impresses the hell out of me.

HONORABLE MENTION The .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM) is a sizzler well-liked by a lot of shooters. Lighter bullets can leave the muzzle well above 4,400 fps, and once in Wyoming I had a chance to fire a rifle chambered for the round and found it to be accurate and reliable. Of course, there are other good cartridges for blasting varmints to the heavens, but the ones I’ve detailed here are simply superb. For someone wanting to maintain hand-eye coordination, proper breathing and precision shooting abilities, varmint hunting provides that opportunity, and it’s just plain fun to boot. NS 170 Northwest Sportsman

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COWBOY .25 .32 .38 .38 .38 .38-40 .44-40 .45LC .45LC .458

85 GR. 78 GR. 120 GR. 125 GR. 130 GR. 180 GR. 180 GR. 160 GR. 200 GR. 350 GR.

RNFP/500 RNFP/500 TC/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/500 RNFP/900 RNFP/500 RNFP/100

STANDARD .32 KEITH .380 9MM 9MM .38 .38 .40 .45ACP .45ACP .45LC

125 GR. 95 GR. 115 GR. 125 GR. 148 GR. 158 GR. 180 GR. 200 GR. 230 GR. 255 GR.

SWC/500 RN/500 RN/500 RN/500 DEWC/600 SWC/600 RNFP/500 SWC/500 RN/500 SWC/500

GAS-CHECK .38 .357 .41 .44 .44 .44 .45LC .45LC .458 .500

158 GR. 180 GR. 230 GR. 240 GR. 240 GR. 305 GR. 260 GR. 325 GR. 430 GR. 440 GR.

SWC-HP/100 LBT-WFN/100 SWC/100 SWC-HP/100 SWC/100 LBT-WFN/100 SWC-HP/100 LBT-LWN/100 LBT-LWN/100 LBT-WFN/100

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This is a good cross reference of the bullets we offer. We have about 144 set of molds with new molds coming. Sixteen employees working 10 hr. a day shifts 4 days a week with 12 casters, 7 auto lubers, and 12 star lubers gas checking every day. We have bullets made with five different alloys that we order in 40,000 - 60,000 lbs at a time a mixed per our set alloys. Prices subject to change without notice.

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